Nicaragua accuses Germany of breaching genocide treaty at UN court
Nicaragua has told the International Court of Justice that Germany breached the Genocide Convention through arms supplies to Israel; Berlin denies the claim.
Nicaragua told the International Court of Justice on Tuesday that Germany breached the Genocide Convention by supplying weapons to Israel for use in the war in Gaza.
Germany denies the allegation and argued on Monday that Nicaragua's case was improperly filed and should be dismissed.
The hearings at the court in The Hague are focused first on Germany's preliminary objections, including whether the judges have jurisdiction to hear the case.
Nicaragua's lawyers argued that Germany knew, or should have known, there was a serious risk that its military support could facilitate acts that may amount to genocide.
Berlin's legal team said Nicaragua had not made a proper attempt to resolve the dispute before taking Germany to the court, a procedural step generally expected before one state brings a case against another. Nicaragua disputed that account and referred to documents sent to Germany's foreign ministry.
Israel is not a party to the case and strongly denies that its military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide. The case concerns Germany's obligations under international law rather than a direct claim against Israel.
The proceedings are separate from South Africa's case against Israel at the same court. South Africa instituted that case in December 2023, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention. Israel rejects South Africa's allegations.
The ICJ is the United Nations' highest court for disputes between states. It is expected to rule on jurisdiction later this year. If the case is allowed to continue, a final decision on the merits could take several years.