Germany has strongly refuted allegations made by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice, claiming that Berlin facilitated breaches of the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law by providing arms and support to Israel during its assault on Gaza. Germany's legal team argued that Nicaragua's accusations lack substance upon closer examination.
Nicaragua had urged the court to order Germany to cease military aid to Israel, alleging that such support enables acts of genocide and violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. However, Germany's representatives dismissed these claims as unfounded and not grounded in fact or law.
The preliminary hearings focused on Nicaragua's request for provisional measures, including a court order for Germany to halt military aid to Israel and reinstate funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza. Germany clarified that it had only approved a limited number of weapon exports to Israel, primarily for test or practice purposes.
Germany emphasized its ongoing humanitarian support to Palestinians in Gaza, highlighting its efforts to engage constructively with international partners despite challenging conditions. The case brought by Nicaragua is part of a broader trend of legal actions aimed at addressing Israel's offensive, with some countries calling for a halt to arms supplies to Israel.
Israel has consistently denied allegations of genocidal acts, asserting that its actions are in self-defense against Hamas-led militants. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties in Gaza, with a majority of the victims being women and children.
Germany, as the second-largest arms supplier to Israel after the U.S., faces scrutiny over its military exports. While the U.S. is a major supplier as well, its stance on the ICJ's jurisdiction and the Genocide Convention protocol make it less susceptible to legal challenges in this context.
