UN court dismisses Nicaragua's allegations against Germany in Gaza conflict.
Nicaragua has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to enact five interim measures prior to the conclusion of the proceedings, which could take several years. These include stopping Germany's arm shipments to Israel. In the lawsuit, Nicaragua is charging Germany with aiding and abetting genocide against Palestinians by providing arms to Israel, among other things.
Germany's Foreign Office in Berlin praised the court's decision, stating, "Germany is not involved in the Middle East conflict - in fact, we are working tirelessly for a two-state solution." Germany is 'the largest donor of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians' and is crucial in ensuring that assistance reaches the population in Gaza, they added.
However, the Foreign Office acknowledged that "the terror of October 7th has sparked another cycle of violence, which Israel has to defend against." They referred to the remaining hostages taken from Israel during the abduction incident earlier in October.
In response to Nicaragua's request for immediate measures, Berlin should also renew its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Germany had halted its donations in January after employees of the aid organization were linked to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. But, following the release of an investigative report on UNRWA, the German government announced the resumption of payments.
Germany refutes Nicaragua's claims. Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, the head of the legal department and international law consultant at the Federal Foreign Office, stated in April that Germany supplies weapons through a rigorous vetting process that exceeds international law expectations. "Israel's security is at the core of German foreign policy," she stressed.
Nicaragua, which is perceived as an ally of Iran - Israel's main regional rival - has turned to the ICJ against Germany because the US, Israel's key ally, does not recognize the Hague Court, explained Nicaraguan attorneys.
The ICJ was established to settle disagreements between countries. Its rulings are legally enforceable, but it has limited power to enforce them.
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Source: www.stern.de
