Namibia Blocks Entry Of Cargo Ship Loaded With Explosive Material Bound For Israel

Namibian authorities have stopped the MV Kathrin, a Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel suspected of carrying military supplies bound for Israel, from docking in Walvis Bay, the country’s largest commercial port.

Namibian Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab stated that the ship was unable to dock because it was carrying “explosive material destined for Israel.” The MV Kathrin, which left Vietnam in late July and made a transit stop in Singapore, had requested docking permission in Walvis Bay before heading north to the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar.

According to Dausab, Namibia’s actions are consistent with its stance against involvement in what it considers Israeli “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide” in Gaza. The country has also called for an end to the violence in the region.

The Namibian Police Force reported that the ship was carrying 60 TNT containers and eight other explosives, with Slovenia as its declared destination. The clearance granted for the ship to dock on August 13 was later canceled.

The Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT), a local human rights organization, praised the Namibian government’s move by stating that they are pleased that their government has decided to respect international law and not to be involved in genocide.

Namport, Namibia’s port authority, reported that it had not received the required pre-clearance documents for the MV Kathrin. While Namport has not officially commented on the incident, it has pledged to protect its territorial waters and ports. It also revealed that another vessel carrying dangerous cargo was allowed to travel through Namibian seas without docking.

The blockade follows a recent issue brought before the International Court of Justice by South Africa, Namibia’s neighbor, alleging that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, which Israel has dismissed as untrue. Namibia’s action is consistent with its overall support for the Palestinian cause and its call for an immediate end to the destruction in Gaza.

This is the second time in recent months that Namibian officials have denied docking permits to a vessel suspected of delivering supplies for use in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Another vessel, identified as Nordic, was suspected of transporting supplies to Israel and was allowed to sail through Namibian seas in July without being docked.

The conflict in Gaza started when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, the Israeli military began a counteroffensive against Hamas, and the Hamas-run health ministry has reported nearly 40,430 deaths in Gaza since then.

The MV Kathrin was the latest vessel to be targeted by protestors amid international scrutiny over the transportation of military cargo to conflict zones.

A similar incident occurred in Spain in May when protestors accused a cargo ship of bringing weaponry to Israel. However, Spanish authorities later confirmed that the vessel’s cargo was intended for the Czech Republic.

References: BBC, Bloomberg

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