Swapo marches against Israeli attacks on Palestinians

WINDHOEK: The governing Swapo Party will march to the United Nations Office on Friday to hand over a petition over the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians by the Israeli military.

The party’s secretary for information and mobilisation, Hilma Nikanor, on Wednesday announced the planned march in solidarity with, and in support of, the people of Palestine.

She said the protest would start at the Zoo Park in the city centre in the morning and proceed to UN House in Klein Windhoek.

“All Swapo Party members, supporters, sympathisers and indeed all peace-loving Namibians are cordially invited to join the march. What is happening to the people of Palestine touches hearts across the board. This march is open to all Namibians, irrespective of their political or religious affiliation,” Nikanor said during a press briefing.

She said Namibians can make a difference by calling on the member states to find an amicable solution through peaceful means.

The announcement came after Swapo president and head of state Hage Geingob also criticised Israel’s bombardment and subsequent killing of Palestinians, including children.

Geingob called for a moment of silence while addressing Namibian ambassadors at the opening of the ninth Session of the Heads of Mission Conference in Windhoek on Monday.

“We have learned that there are two types of human beings in this world. There are those who are apparently very superior and holy, and they cannot be touched. But there are others that you just butcher, like dogs, hunting them down… We see it on TV,” the president had said.

Geingob’s sentiment has been echoed by Swapo’s secretary for external affairs, Peya Mushelenga, who lamented power imbalances in global politics.

“We are talking about somewhere, that somehow, some states are in a position to bring an end to this conflict, but are not forthcoming. That’s why we must appeal to everyone,” Mushelenga said about the march’s objective.

“There are some conflicts in this world, and when they occur, people are quick. Now the question is whether some lives do not matter. Is it that the lives of Palestinian women and children do not matter?”

Israel unleashed military attacks on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the 07 October surprise attack by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that killed over 1 000 people in southern Israel.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed unprecedented revenge on Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of over 7 000 Palestinians, including close to 3 000 children, according to international media.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency