MIFF was founded in 1978. Since then it has grown substantially from 1,200 members in 2005, to more than 11,000 as of 2017.[1] In January 2009, during the Gaza War, a peaceful rally by MIFF was attacked amid violent anti-Israel riots in Oslo.[2] By early 2014 MIFF had more than twice as many members as the main pro-Palestine organisation in Norway, the Palestine Committee of Norway.[3]
In July 2014, amid the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, the organisation accused Mads Gilbert of lying about Israel, and put ads in Norwegian newspapers debunking claims made by Gilbert.[4] The organisation was itself accused of stirring up television viewer storms against NRK reporter Sidsel Wold[5] and TV 2 reporter Fredrik Græsvik.[6] In August 2014 MIFF held a rally with up to 600 people in Oslo, with speakers including members of parliament Hans Fredrik Grøvan and Kristian Norheim.[7][8] The organisation received a record 900.000 kr in gifts and membership fees during the month of August 2014.[9] Notable members of MIFF includes retired football player Anders Rambekk,[10] member of parliament Erlend Wiborg,[11] and former member of parliament Hallgrim Berg.[12]
In 2015 MIFF became a co-founding member of the European Alliance for Israel, which included delegates from fifteen European countries, of which MIFF was the largest group by membership.[13][14]
In October 2023, amid the 2023 Israel–Hamas war about 500 people attended a rally in Oslo arranged by MIFF. Among the speakers were politicians such as Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug.[15]
In March 2024, MIFF leader Conrad Myrland shared a poster campaign referring to the organization as "Med Israel For Folkemord" (With Israel For Genocide). [16]