Beginning a historic legal battle, Nicaragua has requested that Germany stop selling arms to Israel through the UN’s highest court.
Germany is charged with violating the UN Genocide Convention by stopping funding the UN agency that provides help to Israel and transferring military equipment to that country.
Berlin disputes the allegations and on Tuesday will defend itself before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
About 30% of Israel’s military equipment purchases in 2023—a total of €300 million ($326 million; £257 million)—came from Germany.
The accusations are based on a different lawsuit that South Africa filed in January, in which judges at The Hague commanded Israel to take “every possible precaution” to prevent crimes of genocide. Additionally, the court mandated that Hamas promptly return any prisoners that it had abducted from Israel during its attacks on October 7.
Israel maintains its right to self-defense while disputing claims that it committed acts of genocide during its Gaza assault.
The health ministry administered by Hamas in Gaza reports that over 33,000 people, largely civilians, have perished as a result of Israel’s offensive. According to Oxfam, almost 300,000 people in the northern part of Gaza are surviving on an average of 245 calories per day and are in danger of starvation.
Nicaragua claims that Germany is involved in Israel’s alleged war crimes because of the $326.5 million in weaponry shipments to Israel that it made last year—a tenfold increase from 2022. According to the DPA news agency, the bulk of these purchases were made up of parts for communications and air defense systems.
