Faith Nyasuguta
Namibia strongly objects to Germany’s intervention in support of Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding South Africa’s accusations of genocide in Gaza. President Hage Geingob has urged Germany to reconsider its involvement, emphasizing the historical context of Germany’s acknowledgment of the Namibian genocide in 2021.
During 1904-1908, German colonizers committed what historians recognize as the 20th century’s first genocide, resulting in the deaths of over 70,000 Herero and Nama people in Namibia.
President Geingob contends that Germany’s moral commitment to the UN Convention against genocide, including acknowledging the Namibian genocide, contradicts its support for Israel. He asserts that Germany has yet to fully address its historical wrongdoing in Namibia.
However, Germany dismisses the genocide accusation against Israel, describing it as a “political instrumentalization” of the UN genocide convention. The German government underscores its commitment to the convention due to its historical responsibility stemming from the Holocaust.
In response to the accusations, Germany highlights the recent conflict triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel in October. The government argues that Israel, acting in self-defense, faced an existential threat from Hamas, an organization aiming to destroy the country.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, with nearly 24,000 people, primarily children and women, losing their lives in Israel’s retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Concerns about a potential famine and the spread of disease among displaced people in Gaza have been raised by the UN and humanitarian organizations, urging the allowance of more aid into the territory.
South Africa initiated the case at the ICJ, presenting a comprehensive list of alleged Israeli offenses, including the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians and the widespread destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure.
Israel vehemently denies these allegations, labeling them as “baseless” and countering that, if anyone is guilty of genocide, it is Hamas.
The ICJ now holds a pivotal role in determining the validity of South Africa’s claims and shedding light on the complexities surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
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