THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The top U.N. court rejected on Tuesday a request by Nicaragua to order Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel and renew funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza.
The court will still hear arguments from both sides on the merits of Nicaragua’s case, which alleges that, by giving support to Israel, Germany failed to prevent genocide in Gaza.
Israel, which isn’t a party to the case between Nicaragua and Germany, strongly denies that its assault on Gaza amounts to acts of genocide.
Nicaragua’s case is the latest legal bid by a country with historic ties to the Palestinian people to stop Israel’s offensive.
Late last year, South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the court.
The court also rejected Nicaragua’s request for Germany to be ordered to reinstate direct funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza.
Israel says it is acting in self-defense after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation by another international court — the International Criminal Court — is also worrying Israeli officials.
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (AP) — The leading U. Not N. a court on Tuesday denied Nicaragua’s request to direct Germany to stop providing military and other assistance to Israel and to reinstate funding to the U. N. humanitarian organization in Gaza.
By voting 15-1 against the request, the International Court of Justice effectively sided with Germany, which informed judges that it hardly exports any armaments to Israel, claiming that the legal requirements for issuing such an order were not met.
But despite Germany’s request, the 16-judge panel decided not to dismiss the case entirely. The merits of Nicaragua’s case, which claims that Germany failed to stop the genocide in Gaza by supporting Israel, will still be discussed by the court and heard from both sides. Months or years will probably pass in this case.
According to the court’s president, Nawaf Salam, the court “remains deeply concerned about the catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”.
“Considers it particularly important to remind all states of their international obligations relating to the transfer of arms to parties to an armed conflict, in order to avoid the risk that such arms might be used” to violate international law, he continued.
Less than twenty minutes passed during the decision reading.
The German Foreign Office posted a message on X praising the decision.
The ministry stated, “Germany is not a party to the Middle East conflict—on the contrary, we are working day and night for a two-state solution.”. “The majority of the humanitarian aid given to the Palestinians comes from us. Our goal is to guarantee that aid reaches Gaza’s population. “.
However, it also stated that Israel has the right to self-defense and that Hamas, which is using the Gaza population as a shield, is still holding more than 100 hostages. “.
Only four export licenses for weapons of war—two for training ammunition and one for testing—as well as one shipment of “3,000 portable anti-tank weapons” had been given by Germany to Israel since the beginning of the war, the court concluded. “.
Longtime Palestinian ally Nicaragua claims Germany is supporting genocide in Israel by arming it and providing other support. Carlos José Argüello Gómez, the leader of Nicaragua’s legal team, informed the court’s reporters that his nation would continue to present its case.
Israel, which is not involved in the legal dispute between Germany and Nicaragua, vehemently contests the idea that its attack on Gaza qualifies as genocide.
The government of Nicaragua expressed its gratitude to the court for reminding all states, including Germany, of their international responsibilities regarding the transfer of arms to Israel. “.
“No state can claim that it is ignorant of its responsibilities regarding the genocide in Gaza and other transgressions of international law,” the statement from the government stated.
A nation with longstanding ties to the Palestinian people is suing Israel to halt its offensive, and Nicaragua is their latest attempt.
South Africa went to court late last year accusing Israel of genocide. The cases are brought as calls to cease arming Israel and as opposition to the war has grown among some, including Germany.
Additionally, the court denied Nicaragua’s request for an order compelling Germany to resume direct funding to the U. N. organization providing aid in Gaza.
Following the terrorist attack in southern Israel on October that was led by Hamas, Israel claims to be acting in self-defense. 7, taking the lives of about 1,200 people.
The Health Ministry of Gaza reports that since Israel began its offensive, over 34,000 Palestinians have died there. Its death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but it has claimed that women and children account for the bulk of the fatalities.
Given that Hamas fights in populated, dense areas, Israel holds the terrorist group accountable for the high number of civilian deaths. The military claims, without presenting any proof, to have killed over 12,000 militants.
Israel has enjoyed decades of unwavering support from Germany. Berlin, however, has gradually changed its stance as the number of civilian deaths in Gaza has skyrocketed, speaking out against a ground offensive in Rafah and growing more critical of the humanitarian situation there.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel in January to take all necessary precautions to prevent genocide, death, and destruction in Gaza in response to a case brought by South Africa. Experts predict that a famine will soon break out in Gaza, and in March the court issued fresh temporary orders compelling Israel to act to improve the humanitarian situation there.
Israeli officials are also concerned about a separate investigation being conducted by the International Criminal Court, another international court.
An investigation into potential war crimes by Israeli and Palestinian militants dating back to the 2014 Israel-Hamas conflict was started by the ICC in 2021. The inquiry also examines Israel’s establishment of settlements in occupied territory, which the Palestinians desire to be the site of their future state. Concerns regarding potential upcoming arrest warrants in that case have been voiced by Israeli officials in recent days.
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