Namibia calls for removal of Israel blockade on Gaza strip

Namibia has joined other countries calling for the removal of a blockade placed by Israel to control movement in the Gaza strip.

In a message he wrote to coincide with International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People observed Sunday, President Hage Geingob expressed Namibia's desire for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The day was declared in 1977 by the UN General Assembly to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people -- politically and culturally.

Geingob repeated calls for the unconditional removal of the blockade that was placed by Israel to control borders and limit movement in the Gaza strip.

He said the Government and the Republic of Namibia have hope for peace in the Middle East that will pave the way for the co-existence of a Palestinian state with Israel.

According to Geingob, whether this peace is realized or not, will depend on the strong political will of the international community to ensure that all measures are taken for stability within the region.

There is therefore, Geingob said, a need for the international community to work in unison to rally against the continued aggression by Israel which has resulted in the embargo and the recent siege on Gaza.

The blockade was placed in 2007 after Israel's disengagement from the Gaza strip in 2005 and the electoral victory of the Hamas in the Palestinian legislature in 2006.

Israel was not happy when Hamas refused to stop acts violence and recognize the Jewish state.

The borders were sealed off when Hamas working with Fatah formed the Palestinian authority national unity government in March 2007 after Hamas had taken over government institution in the Gaza strip. Enditem