Preliminary hearings open Monday at the United Nations’ top court in a case that seeks an end of German military and other aid to Israel, based on claims that Berlin is “facilitating” acts of genocide and breaches of international law in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Israel strongly denies its military campaign amounts to breaches of the Genocide Convention. While the case brought by Nicaragua centers on Germany, it indirectly takes aim at Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the deadly Oct. 7 attacks when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people. 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.
Quick Read
- UN Court Hearing: Preliminary hearings commence Monday at the United Nations’ top court regarding Nicaragua’s case against Germany’s military aid to Israel, alleging “facilitation” of acts considered genocide and breaches of international law in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
- Israel’s Denial: Israel firmly denies allegations that its military campaign in Gaza constitutes violations of the Genocide Convention.
- Nicaragua’s Claims: Nicaragua’s case, while primarily against Germany, indirectly challenges Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas-led militants, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
- Germany’s Response: Ahead of the hearings, Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted that Germany has not violated the genocide convention or international humanitarian law, promising to detail their legal stance in court.
- Nicaragua’s Requests: Nicaragua seeks provisional measures from the court, including the immediate suspension of Germany’s military assistance to Israel, especially if the aid could be used in ways that violate the Genocide Convention and international law.
- Global Calls for Arms Ban: Amid the ongoing conflict, there are increasing demands for allies to halt arms supplies to Israel, with recent U.N. resolutions and British jurists urging governments to suspend arms sales to Israel due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- Germany’s Stance: Historically a strong supporter of Israel, Germany has gradually voiced concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and has been critical of a potential ground offensive in Rafah.
- Nicaragua’s Motivation: Nicaragua, with historical ties to Palestinian groups, brings the case against Germany, drawing attention to its own history of support from Palestinian organizations during the 1979 Sandinista revolution.
- Previous ICJ Measures: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) previously ordered Israel to take actions to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide in Gaza and to improve the humanitarian situation by allowing more aid into the region.
- Contentious Support: Nicaragua argues that Germany’s political, financial, and military support for Israel, along with the defunding of UNWRA, indirectly facilitates genocide, demanding that Germany do more to prevent such acts.
The Associated Press has the story:
Top UN court to hold hearings in a case seeks to end Germany military aid to Israel
Newslooks- THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) —
Preliminary hearings open Monday at the United Nations’ top court in a case that seeks an end of German military and other aid to Israel, based on claims that Berlin is “facilitating” acts of genocide and breaches of international law in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Israel strongly denies its military campaign amounts to breaches of the Genocide Convention.
While the case brought by Nicaragua centers on Germany, it indirectly takes aim at Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the deadly Oct. 7 attacks when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people. 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.
“We are calm and we will set out our legal position in court,” German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said ahead of the hearings.
“We reject Nicaragua’s accusations,” Fischer told reporters in Berlin on Friday. “Germany has breached neither the genocide convention nor international humanitarian law, and we will set this out in detail before the International Court of Justice.”
Nicaragua has asked the court to hand down preliminary orders known as provisional measures, including that Germany “immediately suspend its aid to Israel, in particular its military assistance including military equipment in so far as this aid may be used in the violation of the Genocide Convention” and international law.
The court will likely take weeks to deliver its preliminary decision and Nicaragua’s case will likely drag on for years.
Monday’s hearing at the world court comes amid growing calls for allies to stop supplying arms to Israel as its six-month campaign continues to lay waste to Gaza.
The offensive has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population. Food is scarce, the U.N. says famine is approaching and few Palestinians have been able to leave the besieged territory.
“The case next week in The Hague will likely further galvanize opposition to any support for Israel,” said Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor of law and international peace studies at the University of Notre Dame.
On Friday, the U.N.’s top human rights body called on countries to stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel. The United States and Germany opposed the resolution.
Also, hundreds of British jurists, including three retired Supreme Court judges, have called on their government to suspend arms sales to Israel after three U.K. citizens were among seven aid workers from the charity World Central Kitchen killed in Israeli strikes. Israel said the attack on the aid workers was a mistake caused by “misidentification.”
Germany has for decades been a staunch supporter of Israel. Days after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained why: “Our own history, our responsibility arising from the Holocaust, makes it a perpetual task for us to stand up for the security of the state of Israel,” he told lawmakers.
Berlin, however, has gradually shifted its tone as civilian casualties in Gaza have soared, becoming increasingly critical of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and spoken out against a ground offensive in Rafah.
Nicaragua’s government, which has historical links with Palestinian organizations dating back to their support for the 1979 Sandinista revolution, was itself accused earlier this year by U.N.-backed human rights experts of systematic human rights abuses “tantamount to crimes against humanity.” The government of President Daniel Ortega fiercely rejected the allegations.
In January, the ICJ imposed provisional measures ordering Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and acts of genocide in Gaza. The orders came in a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention.
The court last week ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-ravaged enclave.
On Friday, Israel said it’s taking steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including reopening a key border crossing into northern Gaza.
Nicaragua argues that by giving Israel political, financial and military support and by defunding the United Nations aid agency for Palestinians, UNWRA, “Germany is facilitating the commission of genocide and, in any case has failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide.”
Israel strongly denies that its assault amounts to genocidal acts, saying it is acting in self defense. Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker told judges at the court in January that the country is fighting a “war it did not start and did not want.”
