Managua accused Berlin of funding Israel's war in Gaza, violating the Genocide Convention.
Nicaragua has taken Germany to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over funding to Israel and cuts to aid to the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA), the court announced on Friday.
The Latin American country accuses Berlin of violating international law by continuing to provide funding to Tel Aviv and urges Germany to order emergency measures to halt military aid to Israel and resume funding to UNRWA. A request was made to the ICJ.
In its submission, Nicaragua cites the 1948 Genocide Convention and the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Laws of War, stating that it must “stop funding UNRWA, which sends military equipment and provides essential support to civilians. “And Germany is facilitating the commission of genocide.” occupied Palestinian territory.
United Nations experts say Germany is a key ally of Tel Aviv and one of its biggest arms suppliers, along with the United States.
The date for the hearing has not yet been released, but the ICJ, also known as the World Court, typically begins hearing requests for emergency measures within a few weeks.
The United States, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and the United Kingdom are following allegations that about 12 of the tens of thousands of Palestinians employed by UNRWA may have taken part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel. At least nine UNRWA donors have ceased funding, including: .
But more than a month after making the allegations, Israel has yet to provide evidence to U.N. investigators.
death toll due to starvation
Berlin pledged $202 million to UNRWA in 2022, making it the second-largest donor after the United States.
UNRWA has warned that the suspension of funding could mean it will be unable to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, where deaths are occurring due to starvation and a lack of medical facilities. On Thursday, Israel opened fire on hundreds of Palestinians waiting for food aid in Gaza City, killing at least 117 people. The incident has sparked global condemnation and calls for an independent investigation.
Nicaragua said in a submission on Friday that emergency measures were needed because Berlin was “participating in an ongoing and plausible genocide and gross violation of international humanitarian law” in the Gaza Strip.
Under the Genocide Agreement, each country agrees not to commit genocide, and participating in this act is a violation. The agreement also allows member states to proactively prevent and punish potential genocides.
The Managua case comes after a controversial lawsuit filed by South Africa in December accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In February, the ICJ ruled that Pretoria's claim that Israel was in violation of the Genocide Convention was improbable, and issued other orders, including calling on Israel to stop potentially genocidal acts in the Gaza Strip. ordered emergency measures.
Israel, which defended itself at the South African hearing, denied the allegations of genocide on the grounds of “legitimate defence,” but experts question Israel's “right to defend” as an occupying power. The incident continues. Human Rights Watch said last week that Israel's obstruction of aid delivery is a violation of the ICJ's January 26 order.
“The Israeli government is starving 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, putting them in even more danger than before the World Court's binding order,” said Omar, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch. Shakil said on February 26th.
Israel has also been criticized for targeting civilians, with more than 80% of those killed being women and children. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 7,000 are missing since Israel launched a brutal offensive on October 7 in response to deadly attacks by Hamas.
In separate proceedings before the ICJ, more than 50 countries submitted claims in February challenging Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem since 1967.