During the hearing on South Africa’s request that the International Court of Justice intervene to stop Israel’s genocidal siege in Gaza, Germany issued a declaration of support for Israel.
In response, President Hage Geingob of Namibia issued a blistering rejection of Germany’s position, noting that it committed the first genocide of the 20th century against the people of Namibia who were in rebellion against German colonial rule.
The statement, which was posted to X on January 13, is reprinted below.
“On Namibian soil, Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians died in the most inhumane and brutal conditions. The German government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil.
“Therefore, in light of Germany’s inability to draw lessons from its horrific history, President Hage Geingob expresses deep concern with the shocking decision communicated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany yesterday, 12 January 2024, in which it rejected the morally upright indictment brought forward by South Africa before the International Court of Justice that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“Worryingly, ignoring the violent deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza and various United Nations reports disturbingly highlighting the internal displacement of 85 percent of civilians in Gaza amid acute shortages of food and essential services, the German government has chosen to defend in the International Court of Justice the genocidal and gruesome acts of the Israeli government against innocent civilians in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
“Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against Genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza. Various international organizations, such as Human Rights Watch have chillingly concluded that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza.
“President Geingob reiterates his call made on 31 December 2023: ‘No peace-loving human being can ignore the carnage waged against Palestinians in Gaza.’ In that vein, President Geingob appeals to the German government to reconsider its untimely decision to intervene as a third-party in defence and support of the genocidal acts of Israel before the International Court of Justice.”
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