A Norwegian politician, Asmund Aukrust, announced that he has nominated the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA for the Nobel Peace Prize.
UNRWA has been facing controversy due to alleged employee involvement in the Hamas-led October 7 terror attack against Israel.
Aukrust, the vice-chairman of Norway’s parliament’s foreign affairs committee, cited the agency’s long-term support to Palestine and the region as the basis for the nomination, emphasizing its crucial role for over 70 years.
Despite over a dozen countries, including major donors like the United States, Germany, Britain, and Sweden, suspending funding to UNRWA over accusations of staff involvement in the October 7 attacks, Aukrust praised the agency’s work.
The attack by Palestinian terrorists resulted in the killing of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 253. Israel responded with a major military offensive targeting Gaza-ruling Hamas and rescuing hostages.
It’s important to note that a nomination for the Peace Prize does not imply recognition by the Nobel Committee, which receives numerous nominations annually from eligible individuals, including lawmakers, cabinet members, former laureates, and some university professors.
The identity of candidates is kept confidential for 50 years, but those who submit nominations can choose to disclose their picks.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
