Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere has called on Israel to release the full tax transfer it is withholding from the Palestinian Authority (PA), as it is critical for the welfare of the Palestinian population. Stoere, who is the chair of the international donor group to the Palestinian territories, expressed concern over the impact of withholding funds bound for Gaza, where the PA covers public sector wages, pays for electricity, medicine, and social assistance programs. Israel's decision to withhold the funds came after an internal cabinet debate following the attack by Hamas on October 7.

On November 2, Israel announced that it would transfer tax revenue to the PA in the Israeli-occupied West Bank but would not include funds for Gaza. The PA responded by declaring that it would not accept a partial transfer from Israel. Stoere emphasized the importance of maintaining the agreed transfer of Palestinian value creation, as the taxes, VAT, and financial sources of income are crucial for delivering essential services in Gaza and the West Bank. He warned that withholding these funds directly affects the welfare and health of the Palestinian population and may lead to a breakdown of the PA, which would only serve extremist forces on the Palestinian side.

The extent of the withholding was not disclosed, but Stoere described it as a substantial amount. The Western-backed PA exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank but does not administer Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. However, thousands of Gaza civil servants are still on the PA payroll. Stoere's call for Israel to release the full tax transfer is intended to address the pressing needs of the Palestinian population and prevent further instability in the region.