Germany said Tuesday before the highest court of the UN that securityé of Israel was "at the heart" of his foreign policy and rejection Nicaraguan accusations that Berlin would facilitate "genocide" &agrav; Gaza. Faced with the situation in the Gaza Strip, the scene of a devastating war between Israel and Hamas, Nicaragua filed a lawsuit against Germany before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which sits in The Hague, denouncing its military support for the Israeli government. The Central American country maintains that Germany is violating the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, established following of the Holocaust, by supplying weapons to Israel. “Our history is the reason why Israel's security has been at the heart of German foreign policy” , declared Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, Germany's representative before the ICJ. “Germany firmly rejects Nicaragua's accusations. They have no basis in fact or in law,” she added. Managua is attacking Germany rather than the United States, Israel's main ally, because Washington does not recognize the court's jurisdiction, Nicaragua's lawyers explained. Hearing before the ICJ in a case filed by Nicaragua against Germany demanding that judges impose emergency measures to prevent Berlin from providing Israel with weapons and other aid, April 8, 2024 in La Hague © ANP – Robin van Lonkhuijsen This country is asking the court to impose emergency orders while it considers the case as a whole. In particular, Managua asks the judges to order Berlin to stop providing weapons and other aid to Israel. The ICJ's decisions are binding but it does not have no enforcement mechanism. For example, she ordered Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine, in vain. Nicaragua on Monday criticized Germany for its support for Israel, calling it “pathetic” to give arms to the Israeli government while simultaneously providing aid to Gaza, a presentation deemed “grossly biased” by Berlin. “Germany only supplies weapons on the basis of careful consideration that far exceeds the requirements of international law,” said Tania von Uslar-Gleichen.< /p> This supply of weapons and other military equipment to Israel is “subject to continuous assessment of the situation on the ground”, she added.< /p> – “Rooted in the law” – “Germany's action in this conflict is firmly rooted in international law”, she insisted. Tania von Uslar-Gleichen (l), representative of Germany, during a hearing before the ICJ in a case filed by Nicaragua against Germany demanding that judges impose emergency measures to prevent Berlin to provide Israel with weapons and other aid, April 8, 2024 in The Hague © ANP – Robin van Lonkhuijsen In addition, “Germany continues to provide humanitarian support (to Gaza) every day in extremely difficult conditions,” said another German representative, Christian Tams. “On closer inspection, Nicaragua's accusations collapse,” he told the judges. The ICJ, which decides the disputes between nations, has become a key player in the war in Gaza. In another proceeding, South Africa accuses Israel of perpetrating genocide in the Gaza Strip. Gaza, which the country vehemently denies. The Court called on Israel to do everything in its power to prevent any act of genocide and recently toughened its position, ordering additional measures requiring Israel to increase access to humanitarian aid. Buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in Khan Younes, in the south of the Gaza Strip, April 8, 2024 © AFP – – The Gaza Strip is the scene of a devastating war between Israel and Hamas, triggered by an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on Israeli soil on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to a report established by AFP based on official Israeli figures. In retaliation, Israel vowed to “destroy” the Islamist movement and launched a vast offensive which has so far left 33,360 dead, mostly women and minors, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health, in power in Gaza since 2007. Speaking after the hearing on Tuesday, Nicaraguan representative Carlos José Argüello Gómez said Berlin's arguments had “not changed Nicaragua's position.” “Germany clearly expresses its position according to which it supports everything that Israel does (…) Nicaragua considers that this constitutes a violation of international law”, he affirmed to journalists. A decision on Nicaragua's action could take several weeks. All rights of reproduction and representation reserved. © (2024) Agence France-Presse
By Teilor Stone
Teilor Stone has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining Thesaxon , Teilor Stone worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my teilor@nizhtimes.com 1-800-268-7116