Nicaragua Accuses Germany of Aiding Genocide in Gaza at UN's Top Court

On Tuesday, a modest Nicaraguan delegation stepped into the grand hall of the Peace Palace in The Hague and, with a mixture of resolve and caution, laid out a startling accusation: Germany, by continuing to sell weapons to Israel, is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention.

“It is inconceivable that a country with such close political, commercial and military ties to Israel could be oblivious to the very real risk that acts amounting to genocide are being carried out,” argued Carlos José Argüello Gómez, Nicaragua’s lead counsel. He reminded the judges that Germany is Israel’s second‑largest arms supplier after the United States, and that the weapons in question have been used in the ongoing war in Gaza that began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks.

The hearing, part of a preliminary phase, did not delve into the merits of the alleged genocide – Israel is not a party to the case – but focused on whether the International Court of Justice (ICJ) even has the jurisdiction to hear the matter. Nicaragua says the facts are clear enough to merit a full trial, while Berlin insists the case is improperly filed and should be dismissed.

Germany’s top lawyer, Julia Monar, responded sharply, suggesting that Nicaragua was less interested in a genuine legal debate and more in dragging Germany before the world’s highest UN court. “Nicaragua’s conduct indicates a desire to politicise the court rather than to resolve a dispute,” she told the judges, adding that customary practice requires states to exhaust diplomatic avenues before seeking judicial intervention.

Both sides pointed to a trail of correspondence. Nicaraguan officials say they sent detailed memoranda to the German foreign ministry, outlining their concerns, and even issued public statements. German representatives argue those efforts were insufficient, and that the case fails to meet the procedural thresholds required by the court.

This is not the first time the ICJ has been used to challenge Israel’s conduct in Gaza. In 2023, South Africa filed a separate genocide case, which also remains under consideration. Nicaragua’s move, however, carries an extra layer: it targets a European nation rather than Israel directly, trying to hold a supplier accountable for the end use of its arms.

Observers note that the ruling on jurisdiction is expected later this year. If the judges decide they can hear the case, the proceedings could stretch over several years, bringing into focus the broader debate about international responsibility for arms exports and the legal limits of the Genocide Convention.