Germany presented arguments at the International Court of Justice on Monday opposing a case filed by Nicaragua that accuses Berlin of facilitating genocide in Gaza through military support to Israel. Nicaragua contends that Germany has violated the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law by providing arms and other military assistance to Israel.
German legal representatives argued that Nicaragua’s filing was improper and should be dismissed. They contended that Nicaragua failed to follow customary procedures for resolving disputes between nations, including providing adequate notice to the German government and allowing sufficient time for response. One German attorney noted that Nicaragua’s formal notification was sent through a Yahoo email address to a general inbox rather than through established diplomatic channels. Germany’s chief lawyer emphasized that her country carefully reviews all military equipment exports according to international law and stated that since 2024, Germany has not authorized any weapons exports intended for use in the Gaza conflict.
The case is being heard as part of broader international legal proceedings addressing allegations related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. South Africa previously brought a similar case against Israel at the same court in 2023, alleging genocide. Both cases reference the 1948 Genocide Convention, which was established following the Holocaust. The ICJ rejected Nicaragua’s earlier emergency request to halt German military aid to Israel but chose not to dismiss the case entirely in 2024.
Germany has been a significant military supplier to Israel for decades, ranking second only to the United States. The proceedings are expected to extend over several years, with hearings on core questions unlikely before late 2029 at the earliest. Separately, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of crimes against humanity related to the conflict.
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