Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The deputy executive director of Multilateral Relations in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation says Namibia should also support people who are being oppressed in other countries.
Jeroboam Shaanika was speaking on Desert Radio last week while discussing why it’s important for the Namibian government to join and support South Africa in its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), aiming to end its military operations in Gaza.
According to Shaanika, Namibia’s independence was a result of international support when the country was fighting apartheid during the colonial era.
“Many people internationally came to our cause, and we as a free people cannot keep quiet on the injustice that was perpetrated against us, and then we remain silent when these things are perpetrated against other people elsewhere,” he said.
The seasoned diplomat continued, saying that Namibia has a duty to combat injustice and that any small contribution the nation makes could one day lead to action.
“Namibia should remain firmly on the side of the people who are denied their rights to self-determination. The people of Palestine, the people of Sahrawi, when they become victorious one day, they will remember our act of kindness,” stated Shaanika.
Last week, Namibia welcomed the advisory opinion delivered by the ICJ on 19 July.
The advisory addressed the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The ICJ reached the following momentous conclusions:
● Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) is unlawful.
● Israel is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the oPt as rapidly as possible.
● Israel is under an obligation to immediately cease all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the oPt.
● Israel has an obligation to make reparation for the damage caused to all natural or legal persons concerned in the oPt.
● All States are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful presence in the oPt and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s continued presence in the oPt while cooperating to bring an end to the violations identified.
● International organisations, including the UN, are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the oPt.
● The UN, and especially the General Assembly, which requested the opinion, and the Security Council, should consider the precise modalities and further action required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the unlawful presence of Israel in the oPt.
