is to deliver its ruling on Tuesday on emergency measures to stop from providing weapons and other assistance to Israel for the war against Hamas in Gaza.
has brought the charges, claiming that Germany’s actions breach the 1948 Genocide Convention by allowing contraventions of international humanitarian law in the Palestinian territory.
What did Nicaragua allege?
Nicaragua’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez to the ICJ’s 16-judge panel earlier this month.
“There can be no question that Germany … was well aware, and is well aware, of at least the serious risk of genocide being committed,” he said.
“Germany is failing to honor its own obligation to prevent genocide or to ensure respect of international humanitarian law.”
Nicaragua — a country that has historic ties with the Palestinian people through migration — has requested several provisional measures against Germany.
They include that the country “immediately suspend its aid to Israel, in particular its military assistance including military equipment.”
How has Germany responded?
The head of the German legal team, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen,
“Where Germany has provided support to Israel, including in a form of export of arms and other military equipment, the quantity and purposes of these supplies have been grossly distorted by Nicaragua,” von Uslar-Gleichen said.
“Our history is the reason why Israel’s security has ,” she added, referring to Germany’s role in the Holocaust.
Another of , Christian Tams, told the court that 98% of arms exports to Israel since October 7 were general equipment like vests, helmets and binoculars.
“The moment we look closely, Nicaragua’s accusations fall apart,” Tams told the court.
The decision on Tuesday is only a preliminary one, and Nicaragua’s case will likely drag on for years.
ICJ to rule on separate genocide allegation
The ICJ, which was set up to rule in disputes between nations, has emerged as an important forum for international arguments about the war between Israel and Hamas militants.
in Gaza, charges that Israel has strongly denied.
The ICJ made an interim ruling finding it “plausible” that Israel’s acts could amount to acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
has killed more than 34,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry. Numbers provided by the ministry are generally seen as reliable by UN agencies.
The war has displaced about 80% of the population, with hundreds of thousands said to be on the brink of famine.
The Gaza war started when and other Islamist militants staged an attack on southern Israel and killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians in the October 7 attacks. They also took another 250 hostages.
Germany, the EU, the US, and others have designated Hamas as a terrorist group.
rc/wd (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
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