Dausab draws 'painful' genocide parallels
Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab has drawn parallels between the German genocide of the Nama and Herero people in 1904, which claimed the lives of between 24 000 and 100 000 Hereros and 10 000 Nama people, and the ongoing Israeli conflict against Palestinians in Gaza.
Dausab spoke on behalf of Namibia at the hearings held by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, to address the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in occupied Palestinian territories.
‘Moral responsibility’
During her speech, Dausab accused Germany of "starting the first genocide of the 20th century" and said Namibia has first-hand experience in occupation, colonialism, systematic discrimination and apartheid.
This history, according to the minister, gives Namibia a "moral responsibility" to speak out against the occupation of Palestine by Israel.
"The parallels between Namibia and Palestine are striking and painful. Both were integral parts of the mandate system established after World War I, and in both cases, the so-called sacred trust of civilization, which aimed to guide these nations towards self-determination and independence, was utterly betrayed," she said.
"Instead of achieving self-government, both Namibians and Palestinians suffered the loss of human dignity, life, liberty and the outright theft of their land and natural resources," the minister noted.
‘Painful memories’
Al Jazeera has reported that at least 29 782 people have been killed and 70 043 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 2023.
"The lived reality of the people of Palestine evokes painful memories for many Namibians of my generation," Dausab said.
"We appeal to you once again to end the historic and ongoing injustice by upholding the fundamental rights of a dispossessed people who have endured 57 years of a suffocating occupation," she added.
Dausab spoke on behalf of Namibia at the hearings held by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, to address the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in occupied Palestinian territories.
‘Moral responsibility’
During her speech, Dausab accused Germany of "starting the first genocide of the 20th century" and said Namibia has first-hand experience in occupation, colonialism, systematic discrimination and apartheid.
This history, according to the minister, gives Namibia a "moral responsibility" to speak out against the occupation of Palestine by Israel.
"The parallels between Namibia and Palestine are striking and painful. Both were integral parts of the mandate system established after World War I, and in both cases, the so-called sacred trust of civilization, which aimed to guide these nations towards self-determination and independence, was utterly betrayed," she said.
"Instead of achieving self-government, both Namibians and Palestinians suffered the loss of human dignity, life, liberty and the outright theft of their land and natural resources," the minister noted.
‘Painful memories’
Al Jazeera has reported that at least 29 782 people have been killed and 70 043 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 2023.
"The lived reality of the people of Palestine evokes painful memories for many Namibians of my generation," Dausab said.
"We appeal to you once again to end the historic and ongoing injustice by upholding the fundamental rights of a dispossessed people who have endured 57 years of a suffocating occupation," she added.
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