“The minute we look closely, Nicaragua’s accusations fall apart,” Christian Tams, a member of Germany’s legal team, told the 16-judge panel at the International Court of Justice.
On Monday, Nicaragua urged judges to order a halt to German military aid to Israel, arguing that Berlin’s support enables acts of genocide and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
The head of Germany’s legal team, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, said Nicaragua’s claims “have no basis in fact or law.
Closing Germany’s arguments, Von Uslar-Gleichen urged judges not to impose preliminary measures and to toss out Nicaragua’s case.
The court will likely take weeks to deliver its preliminary decision, and Nicaragua’s case will probably drag on for years.
Since then, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
Its toll doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it has said women and children make up the majority of the dead.
The U.S. also has not signed a protocol to the Genocide Convention that allows countries to bring disputes to the court.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Germany vehemently rejected a case on Tuesday from Nicaragua before the top court of the United Nations, which accused Berlin of aiding and abetting violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention by giving Israel weapons and other support during its deadly attack on Gaza.
“Nicaragua’s accusations unravel the moment we examine them thoroughly,” German attorney Christian Tams stated to the 16-judge panel of the International Court of Justice.
Nicaragua said on Monday that Berlin’s support for Israel’s military encourages genocide and violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, and it urged judges to order an end to Berlin’s military aid to Israel.
Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, head of Germany’s legal team, declared that Nicaragua’s claims “have no basis in fact or law.”. Israel, who is not a party to these proceedings, must evaluate their behavior before they can proceed. “.
The only topic of discussion during the preliminary hearings on Monday and Tuesday is Nicaragua’s request for “provisional measures,” such as a court order compelling Berlin to stop providing military and other assistance to Israel and to resume funding to the U.S. N. organization providing aid in Gaza.
Von Uslar-Gleichen concluded Germany’s case by pleading with judges not to grant preliminary relief and to reject Nicaragua’s case.
According to Tams, since October, Germany has only granted licenses for four exports of armed forces to Israel, three of which are “practice or test equipment.”. He said that since October, 98% of military supplies to Israel have been shipped. Other equipment, not weapons of war, were used in 7 attacks.
Berlin still offers humanitarian help to Palestinians “every single day under extremely difficult conditions, constructively engaging with international partners,” Tams added, displaying to the judges an image of German aid being airdropped over Gaza. “.
Following South Africa’s accusation of genocide against Israel at the same court late last year, Nicaragua is the latest nation with historical ties to the Palestinian people to attempt to curb Israel’s offensive through the legal system. Along with growing criticism of the war from some supporters, such as Germany, it also coincides with calls for Israel’s allies to cease arming the nation.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock informed reporters in Berlin that “from day one after Oct. 7. Germany has accepted the unbelievable predicament that Hamas has created for itself by hiding behind civilians and using the misery of Gaza’s Palestinian population to intensify its attacks on Israel. “.
Baerbock reiterated Germany’s adherence to international law, which includes the right to self-defense, in line with the remarks made by the German attorneys in court.
She explained, “This means that Israel has the right to defend itself against these terrorist attacks that continue to be carried out with the aim of destroying Israel as a state, just like every other country in the world.”.
During the hearings on Monday, Carlos José Argüello Gómez, the ambassador of Nicaragua to the Netherlands, made accusations against Germany, saying that the country was not fulfilling its responsibility to stop genocide or to uphold international humanitarian law. “.
Samuel Wordsworth, another German attorney, countered that since the court’s judges have not declared that Israel is in violation of the Genocide Convention, they could not conclude that Germany was failing in its duty to prevent genocide.
Early in the case, which South Africa filed toward the end of the previous year, the U. N. The court has ruled that it is “plausible” that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute violations of the convention.
Wordsworth questioned, “If a third state’s failure to show respect isn’t proven, how can it be said that there was a failure to ensure respect of that third state?”.
Nicaragua’s case is likely to take years to resolve, and the court may take weeks to render a preliminary decision.
Since militants led by Hamas invaded southern Israel on October, Israel has vehemently denied that its attack amounts to genocide and has claimed that it is acting in self-defense. 7, resulting in about 1,200 deaths.
The Health Ministry of Gaza reports that over 33,000 Palestinians have died there since that time. According to its toll, women and children account for the majority of the dead, regardless of whether they are combatants or civilians.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute claims that Germany is ranked second only to the U. S. in arming Israel, but it would be more difficult, if not impossible, for the U.S. S. be brought before the court as a result of Washington’s rejection of the International Court of Justice’s authority to order nations to appear in court. The ‘U. s. additionally declined to ratify the Genocide Convention Protocol, which permits nations to file legal complaints with the court.
.
