Germany is facing accusations at the International Court of Justice from Nicaragua that it is furthering genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israel. Germany has long been a supporter of Palestinian rights and denies violating the Genocide Convention or international humanitarian law. The country argues that Nicaragua’s accusations are a deliberate distortion of reality and are based on an assessment of Israeli military conduct, which is not a party to the proceedings. Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier and views support for Israel as a national reason for existence due to the Holocaust.
Nicaragua brought the case against Germany to the court in The Hague, accusing Germany of facilitating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by providing Israel with military and financial aid. The Nicaraguan government has asked for emergency measures ordering Germany to stop its support. Germany, however, denies these accusations and states that it has always been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights. The country’s Foreign Ministry lead counsel stated that Germany has tried to balance the interests of both Israel and the Palestinians. Germany approved arms exports to Israel valued at 326.5 million euros in 2023, showing its substantial support for Israel.
Germany’s Parliament discusses each individual arms delivery to Israel and talks with Israel about compliance with international humanitarian law in the conflict. The German government emphasizes its special responsibility towards Israel and views Israel’s existence as a matter of state. The case brought by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice raises questions about the liability of countries that have supplied weapons to Israel for the war in Gaza. It also highlights Germany’s willingness to face legal challenges regarding its arms exports to Israel, unlike the United States, which denies jurisdiction to the court.
Nicaragua’s case is the third recent case before the court focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Earlier this year, South Africa argued that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, leading the court to order steps to prevent such atrocities. Israel has strongly denied these genocide allegations. There is growing concern in Germany that global outrage over the war in Gaza may be damaging important international relationships. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to upholding international humanitarian law by sending a delegation to Israel as a reminder of its duty as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions.
Germany’s defense at the International Court of Justice against accusations of furthering genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israel highlights the complexities of balancing support for Israel with upholding Palestinian rights. The case brought by Nicaragua raises important questions about the responsibility of countries that provide military aid to parties involved in conflicts like the one in Gaza. As the court considers these accusations, Germany stands firm in its denial of violating international laws and asserts its longstanding support for the Palestinian people alongside its national reason for existence in supporting Israel.
