Full Breakdown
Norwegian Professor’s Praise for Hamas Attack Sparks Diplomatic Outcry
5/4/2026, 12:59:33 AM
Core Event: Controversial Lecture on the October 7 Hamas Attacks
On 21 April, Bassam Hussein, a project-management professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, described the October 7 Hamas attacks as “the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century.” Speaking during a Socialist Forum-organized lecture on the Middle-East conflict, Hussein added that the attacks disproved the notion of Israeli superiority and portrayed Israel as a vulnerable “dragon” pierced by a “needle in the backside.”
Background & Context: Lecture Setting and Prior Recognition
The lecture took place at NTNU, a leading Norwegian research university. Hussein, originally from Jabalya in Gaza, has previously been recognized as one of Norway’s top 10 outstanding lecturers (2016) and received the Excellent Teaching Practitioner award from NTNU (2023). In 2025, the Student Society in Trondheim awarded him honorary membership for “outspoken efforts to raise awareness and mobilize against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.” A GoFundMe campaign launched by Hussein in 2024 references his family’s continued residence in Gaza.
Key Figures & Groups
- Bassam Hussein – Project-management professor, NTNU; lecturer on Middle-East affairs.
- Eytan Halon – Chargé d’affaires, Israeli embassy in Oslo.
- Socialist Forum – Organizer of the April 21 lecture.
- Student Society in Trondheim (Studentersamfundet i Trondheim) – Honorary-membership granting body.
Official Statements & Responses
The Israeli embassy in Oslo condemned Hussein’s remarks, characterizing them as a glorification of terror and asserting that a professor who praises Hamas cannot remain in a teaching role at NTNU. The embassy’s statement reflects Israel’s official diplomatic stance on public endorsements of the October 7 attacks.
Criticism & Opposition
Halon’s remarks represent formal diplomatic criticism. No additional institutional responses from NTNU or Norwegian authorities are reported in the source material, leaving the extent of domestic opposition unspecified.
Data & Statistics: Honors and Public Outreach
- 2016: Named among Norway’s top 10 outstanding lecturers.
- 2023: Awarded Excellent Teaching Practitioner by NTNU.
- 2024: Launched a GoFundMe campaign citing personal ties to Gaza.
- 2025: Received honorary membership from the Student Society in Trondheim for activism related to the Gaza conflict.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The source provides only the Israeli embassy’s perspective on Hussein’s statements. It does not include reactions from NTNU administration, Norwegian government officials, or other academic bodies, creating a gap in the full institutional response.
Verbatim Quotes
- “the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century.” — Bassam Hussein, Professor, NTNU
- “there is no such thing as Israeli superiority.” — Bassam Hussein, Professor, NTNU
- “shocking glorification of terror.” — Eytan Halon, Chargé d’affaires, Israeli embassy in Oslo
- “This Hamas supporter cannot continue teaching Norway’s students [at] NTNU,” — Eytan Halon, Chargé d’affaires, Israeli embassy in Oslo
Why It Matters / Impact
The episode highlights tensions between academic freedom and diplomatic sensitivities, raising questions about the limits of permissible speech within Norwegian higher education. It also underscores ongoing concerns about antisemitism and the politicization of the Israel-Gaza conflict in European public discourse.
What’s Next
The Israeli embassy’s demand for Hussein’s removal from teaching duties suggests potential administrative review at NTNU. No official decision has been announced, and further developments will depend on university policy and broader public reaction.
