Johannesburg,South Africa

The Namibian government has heard the plea made by Boycott,Divestment and Sanctions(BDS) Movement to disallow vessels which are suspected of carrying weapons to Israel to dock in Namibian waters.

The decision of Namibian government to refuse the docking of MV Kathrin in Walvis Bay few days ago was appreciated by BDS Movement and Palestinians at large.

"The Palestinian BDS National Committee,the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society leading the global BDS movement,deeply appreciate the overwhelming solidarity of the people of Namibia and thanks its government for joining the ranks of countries that respect their obligations under the Genocide Convention by refusing to be complicit in the arms trade with Israel.The UN Human Rights Council has called on all state "to cease the sale,transfer and diversion of arms,munitions and other military equipment to Israel,the occupying Power," particularly as Israel carries out a livestreamed genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza,"said BDS Movement.

The BDS Movement is also requesting the people of Portugal to intervene on pressuring the government of Portugal to stop being in complicit in Gaza genocide.

"The Kathrin is still continuing its course,under the flag of Portugal.We renew our call on the people and civil society of Portugal to pressure their government to comply with international law by investigating and withdrawing the flag from the Kathrin,"adds BDS Movement.

The BDS Movement claimed that dozens of European-flag vessels which suspected to be carrying weapons to be used in an ongoing genocide in Gaza have been docking in Walvis Bay port.

According to BDS Movement,MV Kathrin IMO 9570620 is flying a Portuguese flag(Madeira) and owned by Lubeca Marine Germany GMBH,is suspected of carrying military cargo for Israel.It comes from Haiphong,Vietnam.Vietnam is also known for shamefully continuing military trade with Israel,even during the genocide.

The BDS Movement confirmed that another European owned vessel which was also suspected of carrying military cargo to Israel docked in Namibian waters on July 25.

"A suspected vessel,MV Nordic IMO 9663001,flying a Dutch flag and owned by Dutch Global Seatrade BV,was docked at Walvis Bay,with planned destination Piraeus,Greece.Confirming suspicions the vessel was rerouted to Bandirma,Turkiye,only to head straight to the Israeli port of Haifa.The Nordic is now on its way to Bandirma.

The vessel came from Nhara Sheva(Mumbai),through Chennai and Singapore.The far-right,Islamophobic Indian government has been openly exporting weapons to Israel throughout its ongoing genocide against Palestinians,"said BDS Movement.

The BDS Movement also revealed that both vessels MV Kathrin and MV Nordic are operated by the Danish company Ocean 7 Projects.

Since October 2023,Israeli government which is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised Israeli forces to annihilate more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza and majority of those murdered were women,children and elderly people.