Organizers of the International Women's Day march in the Norwegian capital of Oslo physically blocked a group of around 50 Jews and Israelis from joining the rally over the weekend due to their signs condemning sexual violence against Israeli women and demanding the release of women abducted by Hamas into the Gaza Strip.
2 View gallery
Norwegian ushers, some wearing Arab keffiyehs, block the Jewish and Israeli demonstrators during International Women's Day march in Oslo
The annual march, held on March 8 in Oslo, saw Israeli and Jewish participants reach out to the organizing committee beforehand, requesting to join to highlight the crimes Hamas committed against Israeli women. The committee did not express any objections.
Yael Neilsen, an Israeli living in Norway's capital and head of the Hostage and Missing Families Forum’s Oslo desk, had inquired whether demonstrators could carry pictures of the hostages and signs related to the sexual violence and rape that occurred on October 7. The organizers assured them there would be no issue and that the police would secure the event.
Upon arriving at the International Women's Day march in Oslo with signs featuring images of the hostages, Israeli and Jewish demonstrators were quickly approached by organizers who told them their message contradicted the march's main themes and deemed it provocative.
2 View gallery
Jewish and Israeli demonstrators fly signs with images of hostages during International Women's Day march in Oslo
"We asked how it was contradictory—whether it opposed the weaponization of rape. They couldn't explain. At some point, we realized they were bothered by the sign's resemblance to the Israeli flag, seeing it as a provocation," Neilsen recounted.
"They physically tried to prevent our participation and at one point even attempted to push us. It was very uncomfortable. We felt unwelcome. The organizers stood with linked arms, blocking us from moving toward other groups. The police were present, intervened and stopped them from pushing us."
Believing they could join the International Women's Day demonstration, Israeli and Jewish protesters in Oslo carried a sign reading "Me Too Unless You're A Jew" with a Star of David graphic.
Read more:
However, pro-Palestinian demonstrators soon surrounded them, chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," "Boycott Israel," "No Zionists in our streets," "Israel kills children," "Israel is a terrorist," "Vermin," and "Whores."
"It was shocking, a very difficult and humiliating experience. At a certain point, the police formed a circle around us for protection,” Nielsen said.
“There's no support for Israel here. The situation in Norway is appalling in this regard. There's hatred. One of the hardest things was seeing the hate and glazed eyes. There was no room for dialogue, not even to support women who were raped. The situation is very tough. There's hatred toward Israel, far beyond criticism. Criticism is legitimate, but they adopt the Palestinian and even Hamas narrative."
“The #Oslo #InternationalWomansDay organizers find it right that participants will call for ethnic cleansing of #Jews out of #Israel, but were preventing participation of those that were peacefully calling to release female hostages from #HamasRapists captivity,” Israeli Ambassador to Norway Avi Nir-Feldklein posted on X.
Additionally, a Norwegian man in his 50s, who waved an Israeli flag at a rally in Sandefjord, an hour's drive from Oslo, was severely beaten by 15 pro-Palestinian demonstrators during an International Women's Day event. The attackers kicked him brutally, and he was hospitalized in Tønsberg. The police have opened an investigation.