ICJ hears Germany’s challenge to Nicaragua’s Gaza genocide case
Germany denies Nicaragua’s allegations and argues the International Court of Justice lacks jurisdiction to hear parts of the complaint.
The International Court of Justice has begun four days of hearings on Germany’s preliminary objections to Nicaragua’s case over Berlin’s support for Israel during the Gaza conflict.
Nicaragua alleges that Germany breached the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law by supplying military equipment to Israel and defunding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Germany denies the allegations and is seeking to have the case rejected.
The dispute before the court concerns whether the case can proceed, rather than whether Germany violated international law. Germany told judges that Nicaragua had failed to complete required steps before filing the case and that parts of its complaint fall outside the court’s jurisdiction. The full details of the objections have not been made public.
Nicaragua filed the proceedings in March 2024 and initially sought emergency orders requiring Germany to halt military assistance to Israel and resume funding for UNRWA. The ICJ rejected those provisional measures the following month but did not dismiss the broader case.
Germany says its weapons exports undergo detailed legal scrutiny. During earlier hearings, a German lawyer said 98 per cent of exports to Israel since 7 October 2023 consisted of general military equipment, including helmets, vests and binoculars.
A ruling on the preliminary objections could take about six months. If the case proceeds, consideration of Nicaragua’s allegations on their merits could take years, with no firm date for a final judgment.
