Norway's sovereign wealth fund has announced the sale of its shares in 11 Israeli companies, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a key factor behind the decision. The fund, which invests profits from Norway's oil and gas sector, stated that these sales affect companies not included in the Norwegian Finance Ministry's equity benchmark index.

In addition to the divestment, the fund will now manage all investments in Israeli companies internally, ending contracts with external managers in Israel. The fund's CEO emphasized that these measures are a response to extraordinary circumstances and are intended to simplify investment management and strengthen ethical oversight.

The fund has been intensifying its monitoring of Israeli investments since last fall, leading to the sale of shares in several companies. Known for its global reach, the fund holds stakes in approximately 9,000 companies worldwide.