ICJ to rule on Nicaragua's charges against Germany over Gaza genocide
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Nicaragua has petitioned the ICJ for five immediate measures, including the suspension of Germany's aid to "Israel", particularly its military support and equipment provisions.
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A pro-Palestinian activist works on a protest poster near the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, April 8, 2024, prior to the start of a two days hearing in a case brought by Nicaragua accusing Germany of breaching the genocide convention by providing arms and support to Israel (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced it will deliver a verdict on Tuesday regarding Nicaragua's accusations against Germany for violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by supplying weapons to "Israel" amid the genocide unfolding at the hands of the Israeli army in Gaza.
PRESS RELEASE: the #ICJ will deliver its Order on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Nicaragua in the case #Nicaragua v. #Germany on Tuesday 30 April at 3 p.m. (The Hague). Watch live on @UNWebTV https://t.co/FOPsfjPZ7B pic.twitter.com/5KUf0FiOl3
— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) April 26, 2024
On April 8, Nicaragua brought Germany before the ICJ in a bid to halt Berlin's provision of weaponry and other support to "Israel." The court disclosed that the ruling will be issued at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) on April 30, with Judge Nawaf Salam presiding over the proceedings.
In earlier court sessions, legal representatives from both nations clashed over the matter, with Nicaragua condemning Germany's dual role of arming "Israel" while providing aid to Gazans as "pathetic." Germany, in response, affirmed "Israel's" security as a fundamental aspect of its foreign policy and accused Nicaragua of distorting its military assistance to "Israel."
Christian Tams, representing Germany, told the Court: "The moment we look closely, Nicaragua's accusations fall apart."
Nicaragua has petitioned the ICJ for five immediate measures, including the suspension of Germany's aid to "Israel", particularly its military support and equipment provisions.
Read more: Nicaragua shuts embassy in Germany amid ICJ case for abetting genocide
Germany is "Israel's" second major arms supplier behind the US. In March, the SIPRI institute reported that sixty-nine percent of "Israel's" arms acquisitions in 2023 came from US corporations, 30% came from Germany.
Earlier this month, four human rights organizations filed a domestic complaint in Germany on behalf of five identified Palestinians who reported their lives are in danger due to the collective punishment campaign by "Israel". They have lost family, homes, and employment as a result of the Israeli aggression.
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), one of the main litigants, expressed that “it is reasonable to believe that the German government is in violation of the arms trade treaty, the Geneva conventions and its obligations under the genocide convention – agreements that have been ratified by Germany."
The action, expected to be addressed in writing, would have the biggest practical impact on Germany's sale of 3,000 anti-tank missiles.
Wolfgang Kaleck, the ECCHR General-Secretary, stated that "Germany cannot remain true to its values if it exports weapons to a war where serious violations of international humanitarian law are apparent.”
