Nicaragua has asked the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to order Germany to stop selling arms to Israel, claiming a violation of the UN Convention on Genocide, and expressing concern over Germany’s decision to stop funding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Germany denies the charges and will present its defence at the International Court of Justice on Tuesday, on Monday, the 8th of April, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
The case mirrors a South African case in January in which the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts and Hamas to release hostages taken in the 7th of October attacks.
Nicaragua alleges that Germany’s substantial arms sales to Israel (about 30% of Israel’s military equipment purchases), amounting to 326.5 million US dollars in 2023 – ten times more than the previous year –
are complicit in Israel’s alleged war crimes.
The BBC writes that the trade deals mainly involved air defence system components and communications equipment.
According to documents submitted to the ICJ, Nicaragua wants the UN High Court to order Germany to stop arms sales and to restore funding to the aid agency UNWRA.
Germany was one of 15 Western countries to suspend funding amid allegations that some agency staff were involved in the 7th of October attacks.
The submission alleges that by failing to take these actions, Germany is accused of encouraging genocide and of failing in its duty to prevent such atrocities.
Berlin has denied the accusations but has not disclosed its legal strategy ahead of the hearing, with government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner arguing that the accusations are unfounded.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself but has faced domestic pressure over German arms sales to Israel. A group of civil servants on Sunday called on the German government to immediately halt arms supplies to Israel, citing concerns about legality and international obligations following the ICJ’s January ruling.
Critics of the Nicaraguan case have pointed to Nicaragua’s own human rights violations,
highlighting the government’s repression of the opposition. In March, the UK UN mission criticised the President Daniel Ortega’s government for its “ruthless” repression of human rights and civil liberties.
The Hamas-led Ministry of Health reports that more than 33 000 people, mostly civilians, have died during the Israeli offensive. Oxfam has warned of a hunger crisis, stating that 300 000 people in northern Gaza have survived on just 245 calories a day since January.
Also read: Israel to defend Gaza genocide charges at ICJ
Also read: Israel says it will open new aid routes to Gaza
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