Namibia denies stopover to ship carrying military cargo for Israel amid war on Gaza

Namibia has refused to allow an explosive-laden ship destined for the occupied Palestinian territories to dock at its ports after suspecting that the vessel’s consignments were to be used in the Israeli regime’s ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Portuguese-flagged MV Kathrin had requested permission to dock at the country’s Walvis Bay port on Monday. Namibian authorities, however, intervened and prevented the vessel from entering the country’s waters.

Commenting on the matter, Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab said, "Upon receiving reports that a vessel may be carrying weapons intended” for the occupied territories, she had reminded the relevant authorities “of our international obligations," including under the Genocide Convention.

She said a subsequent police investigation had revealed that the ship was "indeed carrying explosive material” destined for the territories.

"Namibia complies with our obligation not to support or be complicit in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, as well as its unlawful occupation of Palestine," the minister noted.

At least 40,534 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since October last year, when the Israeli regime launched the war on Gaza in response to a retaliatory operation staged by the territory’s resistance groups. The brutal military onslaught has also wounded another 93,778 people.

326 days into genocidal war: Israeli strikes claim dozens of civilian lives in Gaza

Israel’s ongoing strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip have claimed the lives of more civilians, including women and children.

Namibia’s neighbor, South Africa, filed a genocide case against the regime at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), otherwise known as the World Court, in December. The lawsuit prompted the tribunal to issue an initial ruling ordering Tel Aviv to refrain from acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention.

Windhoek expressed its support for the lawsuit during a United Nations General Assembly session in January.

More countries join South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel over Gaza genocide

The Maldives, Namibia, and Pakistan have joined South Africa in a legal case filed against Israel in ICJ over the regime’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Also in January, it criticized Germany for its support for the regime in the ongoing ICJ case after Berlin became the first country to legally intervene on Tel Aviv's behalf at the Hague-based court and defend the war.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir

www.presstv.co.uk