Judges at the top UN court will start hearing the case filed by Nicaragua accusing Germany of supporting “genocide” against the people of Palestine in Gaza over its support for Israel.
Preliminary hearings open Monday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The court will likely take weeks to deliver its preliminary decision.
Nicaragua has asked the court to hand down preliminary orders known as provisional measures, including that Germany “immediately suspend its aid to Israel, in particular, its military assistance including military equipment in so far as this aid may be used in the violation of the Genocide Convention” and international law.
Nicaragua argues that by giving Israel political, financial and military support and by defunding the United Nations aid agency for Palestinians, UNWRA, “Germany is facilitating the commission of genocide and, in any case, has failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide.”
In January, the ICJ imposed provisional measures ordering Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and acts of genocide in Gaza. The orders came in a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention.
Last week, the court ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-ravaged enclave.
Monday’s hearing at the world court comes amid growing calls for US-led Western states to stop supplying arms to Israel.
Observers say the case next week in The Hague will likely further galvanize opposition to any support for Israel.
Hundreds of British jurists, including three retired Supreme Court judges, have called on their government to suspend arms sales to Israel after three UK citizens were among seven aid workers from the charity World Central Kitchen killed in Israeli strikes.
Also on Friday, the UN’s top human rights body called on countries to stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel. The United States and Germany opposed the resolution.
Germany has for decades been a staunch supporter of Israel.
The Israeli offensive has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population. Food is scarce, the UN says famine is approaching and few Palestinians have been able to leave the besieged territory.
Palestinians face more deaths and destruction in Gaza as the US-Israeli onslaught in the besieged strip continues for a seventh month
Palestinians say nearly 33,200 civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the regime launched its genocidal war on the besieged territory on October 7.
