Germany denies aiding Gaza genocide, in response to Nicaragua case at ICJ

Germany has denied that it was aiding genocide in Gaza by selling arms to Israel, in response to a case filed by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

Germany is one of Israel's biggest arms suppliers, sending 326.5m euros ($353.70m) in military equipment and weapons in 2023, according to its economy ministry data.

Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, legal adviser for the German foreign ministry, told ICJ judges that arms exports were scrutinised to ensure compliance with international law.

"Germany is doing its utmost to live up to its responsibility vis-a-vis both the Israeli and the Palestinian people," she said, stating that Germany was the largest individual donor of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

Von Uslar-Gleichen said Israel's security was a priority for Berlin due to the history of Nazi crimes against Jews in the Holocaust. "Germany has learned from its past, a past that includes the responsibility for one of the most horrific crimes in human history," she said.

On Monday, lawyers for Nicaragua asked the ICJ to order Germany to suspend arms sales to Israel and resume funding of Unrwa, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, as emergency measures.

They argued that Germany had violated the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law by continuing to arm Israel despite becoming aware there was a risk of genocide being committed in the Gaza Strip.

The ICJ is expected to issue provisional measures on Nicaragua's case in the coming weeks, however a final ruling could take several years.