Nicaragua seeks to halt German arms exports to Israel at World Court

THE HAGUE: Nicaragua asked the International Court of Justice on Monday (Apr 8) to order Germany to halt military arms exports to Israel and to resume its funding of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, saying there is a serious risk of genocide in Gaza.

The two-day hearings on emergency measures are part of a wider case brought by Nicaragua which accuses Germany of violating the Genocide Convention and the laws of war with its support for Israel.

German officials have said the ICJ case is not justified, and Berlin will present its side in court on Tuesday.

Germany has been one of Israel's staunchest allies since the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas militants which killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

It is also one of the major arms exporters to Israel, sending 326.5 million euros ($353.70 million) in military equipment and weapons in 2023, according to Economy Ministry data.

Lawyers in Germany filed a case last week against the government to stop the arms exports.

ADDING TO GENOCIDE CASE AGAINST ISRAEL

Since October 7, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Nicaragua's case at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, builds on a genocide case South Africa brought against Israel.

In January the ICJ ruled South Africa's claims that Israel violated the genocide convention during its assault on Gaza were plausible and ordered emergency measures, including a call for Israel to halt any potential acts of genocide.

Israel has denied allegations of genocide and said it has the right to defend itself.

The ICJ's emergency measures hearings can result in preliminary injunctions to ensure a dispute does not get worse in the time it takes to reach a conclusion, which can be years.