U.N. case accuses Germany of facilitating Gaza conflict
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Preliminary hearings open Monday at the United Nations’ top court in a case that seeks an end to German military and other aid to Israel, based on claims that Berlin is “facilitating” acts of genocide and breaches of international law in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Israel strongly denies its military campaign amounts to breaches of the Genocide Convention.
While the case brought by Nicaragua centers on Germany, it indirectly takes aim at Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the equipment in so far as this deadly Oct. 7 attacks when aid may be used in the violation Hamas- led militantsviolation of the Genocide Convention” stormed into southern Israel, and international law. killing some 1,200 people. The court will likely take More than 33,000 Palestinians weeks to deliver its preliminary have been killed in decision and Nicaragua’s Gaza, according to the territory’s case will probably drag Health Ministry. Its on for years. toll doesn’t differentiate between Monday’s hearing at the civilians and combatants, world court comes amid but it has said women growing calls for allies to and children make up the stop supplying arms to Israel majority of the dead. as its six-month campaign
“We are calm and we will continues to lay waste to set out our legal position in Gaza. court,” German Foreign The offensive has displaced Ministry spokesperson Sebastian the vast majority of Fischer said ahead Gaza’s population. Food is of the hearings. scarce, the U.N. says famine
“We reject Nicaragua’s is approaching and few Palestinians accusations,” Mr. Fischer have been able to told reporters in Berlin on leave the besieged territory. Friday. “Germany has “The case next week in breached neither the genocide The Hague will likely further convention nor international galvanize opposition to any humanitarian law, support for Israel,” said Mary and we will set this out in detail Ellen O’Connell, a professor before the International of law and international Court of Justice.” peace studies at the University
Nicaragua has asked the of Notre Dame. court to hand down preliminary On Friday, the U.N.’s top orders known as provisional human rights body called on measures, including countries to stop selling or that Germany “immediately shipping weapons to Israel. suspend its aid to Israel, in The United States and Germany particular its military assistance opposed the resolution. including military Also, hundreds of British jurists, including three retired Supreme Court judges, have called on their government to suspend arms sales to Israel after three U.K. citizens were among seven aid workers from the charity World Central Kitchen killed in Israeli strikes. Israel said the attack on the aid workers was a mistake caused by “misidentification.”
Germany has for decades been a staunch supporter of Israel. Days after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained why: “Our own history, our responsibility arising from the Holocaust, makes it a perpetual task for us to stand up for the security of the state of Israel,” he told lawmakers.
Berlin, however, has gradually shifted its tone as civilian casualties in Gaza have soared, becoming increasingly critical of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and spoken out against a ground offensive in Rafah.
On Friday, Israel said it’s taking steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including reopening a key border crossing into northern Gaza.