Namibian Government condemns escalating violence in Middle East

The Namibian Government has condemned the ongoing escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip, which has led to the loss of Palestinians and Israeli lives.

The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (Mirco) in a statement on Monday urged the international community to call for an end to the violence.

Palestinian militants from the Iran-backed Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, penetrated Israel at dawn on Saturday under the cover of a massive rocket barrage.

More than 1 100 people had been killed in the conflict by Monday.

Mirco Executive Director Penda Naanda in a statement said the Namibian Government is gravely concerned and condemns the ongoing escalation of violence.

‘Namibia calls on Israel to cease its attacks and refrain from engaging in provocative acts against the Palestinian people and to respect international humanitarian law,’ Naanda said.

The statement said the Namibian Government continues to support diplomatic efforts aimed at
reaching a lasting peace solution leading to a two-state solution along the 1967 Israeli border with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

Namibia, in addition, urges the international community to continue to support the Palestinian people by implementing relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions and all other agreements for long-term peace in the Middle East, in which the State of Israel would live side by side in sustainable peace and security with the State of Palestine, the statement said.

Source: Namibia Press Agency