The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, has rejected Nicaragua’s request to order Germany to suspend aid to Israel. The ruling was made in response to a lawsuit filed by Nicaragua against Berlin, accusing Germany of violating the Genocide Convention in Gaza.
The decision, read by Nawaf Salam, the president of The Hague, stated that there was not enough evidence to warrant the imposition of provisional measures against Germany. Nicaragua had demanded urgent measures to stop Germany from providing weapons and assistance to Israel.
In response, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Israel has the right to defend itself against attacks and welcomed the ICJ’s decision. They stated that Germany is committed to a two-state solution and is the largest humanitarian aid donor to Palestinians.
Opponents of the Nicaraguan regime, including former presidential candidate Juan Sebastián Chamorro and political prisoner Félix Maradiaga, criticized the lawsuit as lacking legal foundation and being influenced by external interests, particularly referencing Russia’s alleged involvement.
Hearings on the lawsuit began on April 8, with Nicaragua accusing Germany of facilitating genocide in Gaza through its support of Israel. Germany denied the allegations, stating that Israel’s security is a priority in their foreign policy and rejecting Nicaragua’s claims as baseless.
The lawsuit was filed by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega on March 1, accusing Germany of violating international humanitarian law in relation to the Gaza Strip. This is the second time Nicaragua has appealed to the ICJ this year, following a previous request to intervene in a case against Israel brought by South Africa.