Palestinians have thanked Namibia for refusing a vessel suspected to be carrying military cargo for Israel from docking at the Walvis Bay port over the weekend. 

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement wrote on its X page that it salutes Namibia for denying MV Kathrin to stop over at the Namibian port. 

The Palestinian BDS National Committee, the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society leading the global BDS movement, says it deeply appreciates the overwhelming solidarity of the people of Namibia and thanked the 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 vessel, Kathrin, is believed to be en route from Haipong, Vietnam, and was expected to dock at the Port of Walvis Bay. 

This has prompted Palestinian solidarity organisations such as the Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT) to direct an open letter to NamPort, demanding that they deny the vessel permission to dock at the port. 

In the letter, ESJT revealed that this vessel was going to be the second to dock at the port heading to Israel.

According to them, another vessel, MV Nordic, suspected to be carrying military cargo to Israel from Nhara Sheva port in India, docked at the Walvis Bay port last month. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, however, said Nordic only remained anchored in Namibian waters, for which it did not require immigration clearance. 

CEO of NamPort, Andrew Kanime, reassured the Namibian nation and port users that "Namport at all times will always comply with all international conventions on the safe handling of vessels and cargo in our ports and supports. and fully upholds our national government's standing and position on international relations and protocols."

BBC News also quoted the Namibian Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab that following a police investigation, it was established that MV Kathrin was "indeed carrying explosive material destined for Israel, and was therefore prohibited from entering Namibian waters.

BDS called on all port authorities and governments worldwide to follow Namibia's example in ending complicity in Israel's crimes against Palestine by refusing entry of the vessel to their ports.