The International Court of Justice rejected a request by Nicaragua to order Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel and renew funding for the U.N. aid agency in Gaza, ruling in a 15-1 vote that the legal conditions for such an order weren’t met. While Germany welcomed the ruling, noting its commitment to a two-state solution and humanitarian aid for Palestinians, the court will still hear arguments on the merits of Nicaragua’s case, which alleges that Germany’s support for Israel failed to prevent genocide in Gaza. The court expressed concern over the living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza and reminded all states of their international obligations regarding arms transfer to parties in armed conflicts.
Nicaragua, a long-time ally of the Palestinians, maintains that Germany is enabling genocide by providing arms and support to Israel. Israel, however, denies allegations of genocide and self-defense. This legal battle is part of a growing trend of countries with ties to the Palestinians seeking to curtail Israel’s offensive actions. South Africa had previously accused Israel of genocide at the court. The court also rejected Nicaragua’s request for Germany to reinstate direct funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel continues to face an investigation by the International Criminal Court into possible war crimes committed by both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.
Germany had granted minimal export licenses to Israel for weapons of war since the conflict in Gaza began, further indicating its stance on the issue. The court hearing lasted less than 20 minutes and emphasized the precarious situation in Gaza, where civilian casualties have been high. Germany stresses that it is not a party to the Middle East conflict and is focused on humanitarian aid efforts for Palestinians. Israel, on the other hand, argues that Hamas is responsible for the high civilian death toll due to its presence in residential areas.
The ICJ ordered Israel in January to take measures to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide in Gaza, while also issuing new provisional measures to improve the humanitarian situation there. Israel’s allies are facing mounting pressure to stop supplying weapons, and some, including Germany, have been more critical of the conflict. The ICC inquiry into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian militants since 2014, as well as Israel’s settlements in occupied territory, is also causing concern among Israeli officials. Amid these legal battles and international scrutiny, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with a looming risk of famine and ongoing violence.
