THE HAGUE — Germany asked the International Court of Justice to dismiss the genocide case filed by Nicaragua during hearings held on September 7, 2026. The court is reviewing Berlin’s jurisdictional objection in a dispute centered on allegations that German arms exports to Israel facilitate violations of international law in Gaza.

Nicaragua accuses Germany of violating the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law by facilitating acts of genocide in Gaza through arms and military support to Israel. Both nations are signatories of the 1948 Genocide Convention, which forms the legal basis for the proceedings initiated by Managua.

German legal representatives argued that the procedural conduct of Nicaragua demonstrated a lack of genuine interest in diplomatic resolution. "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, legal adviser of the German foreign ministry, said.

Germany is the second-largest supplier of arms to Israel after the United States. Court documents show that export licenses worth $378 million were issued in the last three months of 2023 compared to $45 million in the first three months.

A ruling on Germany’s objection to jurisdiction is expected later in 2026. It takes on average six months for the International Court of Justice to hand down a ruling in cases involving preliminary objections to jurisdiction.

Why It Matters

The case tests the scope of state responsibility under the Genocide Convention regarding indirect military support in conflict zones. A decision on jurisdiction will determine whether the court proceeds to examine the merits of the allegations that German arms transfers constitute complicity in genocide.

The proceedings occur against a backdrop of shifting diplomatic and legal landscapes in the region. Nicaragua broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024, while the International Court of Justice previously ordered Israel in January 2024 to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

Timeline

In January 2024, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Nicaragua broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024. The International Court of Justice rejected Nicaragua’s emergency request to order Germany to halt military aid to Israel in April 2024 but declined to dismiss the case. German lawyer Christian Tams stated in 2024 that 98 percent of arms exports to Israel since October 7, 2023, consisted of general military equipment such as helmets, vests, and binoculars.

Berlin suspended weapons exports to Israel for a few months in 2025 before resuming them. On September 7, 2026, Germany asked the International Court of Justice to dismiss the genocide case filed by Nicaragua. During the same hearing, Julia Monar stated that "Germany has not, since 2024, authorized an export of weapons of war, with final destination in Israel that can be used in the Gaza conflict." Monar also said that "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."

What's New

Additional reporting clarifies that Nicaragua and Germany are both signatories of the 1948 Genocide Convention. Nicaragua ambassador Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez alleged that schoolchildren in Germany are more aware of events in the Gaza Strip than their ancestors were of the horrors of the Nazi regime, implying the German government is fully aware of crimes being committed by Israel. Germany's representative Julia Monar stated that all German exports of military technology and equipment to Israel are subject to strict licensing requirements which exceed international requirements.

How Sources Differ

Regarding the characterization of German arms exports, Christian Tams stated in 2024 that 98 percent of arms exports to Israel since October 7, 2023, consisted of general military equipment such as helmets, vests, and binoculars.

On the topic of German legal representation statements, Christian Tams stated in 2024 that 98 percent of arms exports to Israel since October 7, 2023, consisted of general military equipment such as helmets, vests, and binoculars. Alternatively, Antonios Tzanakopoulos stated that Nicaragua’s formal notification was sent from a Yahoo email address to a general inbox rather than through diplomatic channels.