In light of the continuing crisis in Gaza, Namibian officials recently prevented a ship from docking on suspicion that it was carrying military supplies destined for Israel. In keeping with its position on international relations and human rights, Namibia has decided to stay out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Information Regarding the Event
The MV Kathrin, a Vietnamese cargo ship, requested permission to dock at Walvis Bay, the busiest commercial port in Namibia. Bypassing the Strait of Gibraltar, the ship was supposed to head north toward the Mediterranean Sea. The ship was reportedly carrying explosives bound for Israel, according to Namibian Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab.
An explanation given by Minister Dausab was that “the ship was stopped because it had explosive material destined for Israel.” Given Namibia’s stance in favor of the Palestinians and its determination to end the violence in Gaza, this measure was implemented.
Setting the Scene for the Clash
About 1,200 people died and 251 were taken captive in Israel’s response to a massive attack by Hamas on October 7. This sparked the present conflict. As a result, Israel launched a military offensive against Hamas. Over forty thousand people have supposedly perished in Gaza since the battle began, according to the territory’s health ministry, which is managed by Hamas.
An accusation of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza was lodged by South Africa, an ally and neighbor of Namibia, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December of last year. Israel denies the allegations, saying they are without merit.
Namibia’s Role and How the World Responds
Namibia’s position against possible war crimes and its respect to international law are both highlighted by its decision to block the MV Kathrin. Namibia, as Minister Dausab has stated, will not tolerate what it sees as Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the illegal occupation of Palestine, and will not condone such actions.
One human rights group in Namibia, the Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT), has praised the move by the government. According to ESJT member Herbert Jauch, “We are pleased that our government has decided to respect international law and decided not to be complicit in genocide.”
Port Authority’s Official Comments
At first, Walvis Bay’s supervisor, the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), said it hadn’t received the MV Kathrin’s pre-clearance paperwork. On the other hand, the agency has now promised to back Namibia’s international relations and protocols while also making sure that the country’s ports and waters are safe and secure. Another ship with hazardous cargo was also found to have been allowed to transit through Namibian seas, according to Namport, but docking was not allowed.
In summary
An indication of Namibia’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and compliance with international standards concerning military cargo is its action against the MV Kathrin. This decision reflects Namibia’s strong support for human rights and its opposition to any actions that could worsen the current humanitarian situation in Gaza.
