Norwegian Police Close Investigation Into Professor Who Praised Hamas Terror Attack

Norwegian police have closed the investigation against Professor Bassem Hussein, who described the Hamas terror attack on October 7 as "the most beautiful thing that happened this century." The decision, announced on Wednesday, was based on the conclusion that his statement does not constitute a criminal offense under Norwegian law. Hussein, a Palestinian-origin engineering professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, has previously led pro-Palestinian protests and called for severing academic and industrial ties with Israel. His family resides in Gaza, and he has expressed ongoing anxiety about their safety.

The controversial remarks were recorded during a university event and posted on YouTube, drawing sharp criticism from Eytan Halon, Israel's acting ambassador to Norway, who condemned the professor's glorification of terror and called for his removal from teaching. The Trøndelag police informed complainants that the behavior reported does not meet the threshold for prosecution, though the decision can be appealed within three weeks to a higher prosecutorial authority.

Activist group StoppNRK, which filed the complaint alleging incitement and praise of terrorism, announced plans to appeal the police decision, arguing it signals tolerance for support of Hamas. Israeli-Norwegian activist On Alfalag expressed concern about safety for Jews in Norway and criticized the legal tolerance for such statements.

Norway has been notably hostile toward Israel since October 7, 2024, including officially recognizing a Palestinian state and recalling its ambassador. The Norwegian government has taken several anti-Israel stances, such as appealing to the International Court of Justice over Israel's UNRWA policy and divesting from Israeli banks and companies linked to military equipment used in conflict zones. These developments have strained diplomatic relations and prompted Israeli officials to consider closing the embassy in Oslo.