Germany defended itself at the International Court of Justice against accusations that its arms shipments to Israel were furthering genocide in Gaza. They argued that most of the equipment supplied since Oct. 7 was nonlethal and that Germany has also been a major donor of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
Lawyers for Germany stated at the U.N. court in The Hague that the allegations by Nicaragua had no factual basis and were based on an assessment of Israel’s military conduct, even though Israel is not a party to the case.
Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, an official at Germany’s Foreign Ministry and lead counsel in the case, firmly rejected Nicaragua’s accusations as rushed and based on flimsy evidence.
Nicaragua had requested emergency measures to halt Germany’s support to Israel, accusing Germany of facilitating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The court is expected to make a decision on emergency measures soon.
The recent proceedings at the U.N. court marked the third time it became a platform for nations to pressure Israel and support Palestinians. Earlier this year, South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, while the latest case by Nicaragua has focused attention on Germany, Israel’s second-largest arms supplier.
Germany’s legal team emphasized their efforts to balance support for both Israel and Palestinians, highlighting their significant contributions to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Germany’s support for the rights of the Palestinian people has been a guiding principle alongside Israel’s security. However, questions have arisen about the extent of Germany’s backing for Israel, especially in light of the crisis in Gaza.
Germany’s legal team defended their arms exports to Israel, stating that most were nonlethal support. They refuted Nicaragua’s claims of increased weapons supplies, emphasizing the balance between supporting Israel’s defense needs and humanitarian concerns.
Pieter D. Wezeman from SIPRI noted that Germany’s arms exports to Israel are in line with typical practices. While not directly involved in killings, these exports play a crucial role in enabling a country’s armed forces to engage in warfare.
Lawyers highlighted that Germany, unlike the U.S., has granted full jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice, making it an easier target for legal action. The U.S. generally denies the court’s jurisdiction unless explicitly agreed upon.
