Nicaragua told the United Nations’ top court on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) that Germany has breached the Genocide Convention by selling Israel weapons that were used in the country’s war in Gaza.
Berlin denies the allegation. Why Nicaragua is suing Germany at the World Court, invoking the Genocide Convention | Explained
Nicaragua argued that Germany is violating international law by “facilitating” acts of genocide in Gaza by providing arms and other military support to Israel, in proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
On Monday, Germany told the court that the case was improperly filed and should be thrown out. it indirectly takes aim at Israel’s campaign in Gaza in response to the deadly October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas While the case centres on Germany. The proceedings are the latest legal attempt to rein in Israel’s military campaign by a country with historic ties to the Palestinian people, after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the same court in 2023.
Israel, which isn’t a party in the proceedings, strongly denies that its actions amount to acts of genocide. The preliminary hearings focus on whether the court has jurisdiction. Countries are typically expected to attempt to resolve disputes before bringing them to the court.
“It is impossible that with the type of political, commercial and military relations of Germany with Israel, they could not be aware, or normally should have been aware, of the serious risk that acts that could amount to genocide were being committed by Israel,” Nicaragua’s top lawyer, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, told the court. “Nicaragua’s conduct indicates that it was not interested in hearing Germany’s view on its allegations, but simply in bringing Germany before this court,” Julia Monar, Germany’s top lawyer, told the judges.
