Oslo organizations announce October 7 demonstration

Several organizations in Oslo have announced a demonstration scheduled for October 7 at Jernbanetorget, using the slogan ‘Support the Palestinian resistance struggle!’. The event has sparked a media debate in Norway, with critics and some politicians labeling the march as support for terrorism or Hamas, particularly following the circulation of a digital poster featuring imagery from the October 7, 2023, breach of the Gaza barrier.

In response to these criticisms, the Solidaritetsnettverket issued a press release defending the legality of the demonstration. The group argues that under international law, specifically UN resolutions, an occupied people has the right to resist. They contend that the characterization of their protest as controversial is a result of the widespread acceptance of Israeli narratives in the Norwegian public sphere.

While some groups, including Oslo SU and Motmakt, have withdrawn their support for the march, other organizations such as the Anti-imperialist Federation, the Lebanese Association in Norway, and various youth wings remain committed to the demonstration.