Nicaragua takes Germany to ICJ, accusing it of 'facilitating' and failing to prevent genocide in Gaza

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Nicaragua on Friday submitted an application against Germany at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of 'facilitating' genocide in Gaza.

"Nicaragua argues that by providing political, financial and military support to Israel and by defunding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), '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'." the ICJ said in a statement.

Nicaragua requested the court to issue provisional measures "with respect to Germany's 'participation in the ongoing plausible genocide and serious breaches of international humanitarian law and other peremptory norms of general international law occurring in the Gaza Strip'."

Israel has killed more than 30,000 people in its attacks on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian group Hamas. The military campaign has caused mass displacement, displacement and conditions for a famine.

In late 2023 South Africa filed a case at the ICJ, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

The UN court, in its interim ruling in January, ruled that South Africa’s claims are plausible. It ordered provisional measures for Israel’s government to desist from genocidal acts, and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.