Significant
diplomatic events have transpired since January 11 as numerous countries have
come forward in support of South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the
International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging the occupation with genocidal crimes.
اضافة اعلان
These
countries, which bear the scars of their own colonial past, perceive the
injustices in Gaza as a reflection of their own battles. Countries such as
Malaysia, Bolivia, Bangladesh, and Namibia have submitted official
endorsements, citing concerns over potential violations of the 1948 Genocide
Convention concerning the
Israeli war on Gaza.
This wave of solidarity echoes historical parallels and shared experiences of
displacement, human rights violations, and struggles for self-determination.
Bangladesh’s backing of South Africa
On
Monday, Bangladesh expressed its support for
South Africa’s stance against
Israel. According to BNN, the move underscores growing worldwide concern about
Israel's actions and policies, which are being challenged in international
legal forums.
Bangladesh,
like South Africa, has called for provisional measures to halt military
operations in Gaza and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid.
Bangladesh’s
support for South Africa’s case could potentially influence international
opinion and legal judgments, amplifying scrutiny and pressure on Israel.
Namibia holds Germany accountableEarlier
this week, Namibia stepped up to hold Germany accountable after the German
government opted to support Israel's case in the ICJ, denouncing their
hypocritical stance.
The
German government decided to intervene in support of Israel because it
"sees itself as particularly committed to the Convention against
Genocide," Al-Jazeera reported.
Namibian
President Hage Geingob, on the other hand, accused Germany of carrying out the
first genocide of the twentieth century against Namibians.
“The
German government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on
Namibian soil,” he stated. He continued to express deep concern with Germany’s
shocking decision to reject South Africa's morally upright indictment.
In
1884, Germany occupied Namibia, dispatching around 5,000 German settlers and
forcing indigenous Herero and Nama people off their lands and onto “reserves.”
The
Herero and Nama people experienced a discriminatory legal system throughout
their colonization, with German settlers frequently getting away with crimes.
However,
the indigenous people of Namibia rose against their colonizers in 1904. In
response, from 1904 to 1908, Germany carried out collective punishment against
the Herero and Nama people for their acts of resistance. Many were taken to
concentration camps for forced labor; some died of starvation, and women were
systemically raped.
Namibians
were subjected to extensive collective punishment and genocide, so much so that
German Commander Lothar von Trotha issued a letter titled "Extermination
Order."
“I, the great general of the German soldiers, send this letter to the
Hereros... Any Herero found inside the German frontier, with or without a gun
or without cattle, will be shot. I will no longer accept women and children. I
will drive them back to their people, or I will let them be shot at,” the
general stated.
Research
conducted in 1918 by South Africa claimed that 80 percent of the Herero
population and half of the Nama people were killed.
Germany apologized to Namibia for the genocide 100 years
later, in 2004, but refused to pay reparations.
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