STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Norway’s Nobel Committee, which awards the Nobel Peace Prize, held its final meeting on Monday. The Nobel Foundation announced this on Thursday.
This came a day before the name of the 2025 award winner was announced.
Under intense pressure from US President Donald Trump, who aspires to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Thursday. They agreed to cease fire in the Gaza Strip and release hostages and detainees.
This constitutes a fundamental step towards ending a two-year war in the devastated Palestinian Strip.
“The last meeting of the Nobel Committee was held on Monday,” Norwegian Nobel Foundation spokesman Eric Osaim told AFP.
This committee consists of five members, and usually makes its decision several days or even weeks before the official announcement.
It meets one last time in the final stage before the announcement to accurately formulate the reasons for the decision.
“The final touches were put in place on Monday, but we never specify when the Nobel Committee will make its decision,” Osaim added.
He confirmed that the committee will not hold any new meeting before announcing the name of the winner on Friday at 11:00 am (09:00 GMT).
“There will be a winner this year,” he continued.
While some experts speculate that the committee may refrain from awarding the award this year. This is in light of the deteriorating geopolitical situation.
Since returning to the White House in January, Donald Trump has insisted he “deserves” the Nobel Prize. He cites his role in resolving multiple conflicts.
He recently said that not awarding him the award would constitute an “insult” to the United States.
This year, 338 individuals and organizations were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. It was awarded in 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo.
It is a group of survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were recognized for their struggle against nuclear weapons.