ICJ hears Nicaragua's genocide case against Germany over arms for Israel

Thehague,UPDATED: Sep 8, 2026 17:18 IST

Nicaragua told the Court of Justice on Tuesday that Germany had breached the Genocide Convention by supplying Israel with weapons used in the war in Gaza, as the UN's top court heard arguments on whether it has jurisdiction to take up the case.

The case against Germany also turns the spotlight on Israel's military campaign in Gaza after the deadly Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Berlin has denied the allegation, while Israel, which is not a party to the proceedings, has strongly rejected claims that its actions amount to genocide.

Nicaragua argued that Germany was violating international law by "facilitating" acts of genocide in Gaza by providing arms and other military support to Israel. The preliminary hearings are focused on whether the court can hear the case.

The proceedings are the latest legal attempt by a country with historic ties to the Palestinian people to challenge Israel's military campaign, after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the same court in 2023.

"It is impossible that with the type of political, commercial and military relations of Germany with Israel, they could not be aware, or normally should have been aware, of the serious risk that acts that could amount to genocide were being committed by Israel," Nicaragua's top lawyer, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, told the court.

Germany has been a strong supporter of Israel for decades and is its second-largest arms supplier after the United States. Nicaragua's government has historical links with Palestinian organisations dating back to their support for the 1979 Sandinista revolution.

On Monday, Germany told the court that the case had been improperly filed and should be dismissed. "Nicaragua's conduct indicates that it was not interested in hearing Germany's view on its allegations, but simply in bringing Germany before this court," Germany's top lawyer, Julia Monar, told the judges. Countries are generally expected to try to resolve disputes before taking them to the court.

Lawyers for Nicaragua rejected Germany's argument and referred to documents sent to the German foreign ministry as well as press releases describing the dispute. The court is expected to rule on jurisdiction later this year, and if the case goes forward, the proceedings could take years.

The hearings have opened another legal challenge linked to the Gaza war, with Nicaragua accusing Germany of helping enable acts that could amount to genocide, Germany contesting the case, and the court first set to decide whether it can hear the matter at all.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends