The Hague, 30 April 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Tuesday rejected Nicaragua's demands that Germany stop arms exports to Israel because they are aiding and abetting "genocide" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The top UN court in The Hague issued its preliminary ruling in the proceedings launched on March 1, in which Nicaragua asked the judges to issue an emergency order to stop Berlin's military and other aid to Israel.

Nicaragua argued that by providing political, financial and military support to Israel, Germany was "facilitating the commission of genocide and, in any case has failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide."

Germany accused Nicaragua of making false assertions, saying it does not export that many arms to Israel. Germany argues that it supplies largely general armaments and not weapons that can be used in combat.

While the court sided with Germany on the matter of the urgent appeal over arms deliveries, it did not agree with Germany's demand that Nicaragua's case be thrown out in its entirety.

The main proceedings - which turn on the question as to whether Germany's support has enabled genocide in Gaza - could drag on for years. The court's decisions are binding.

"We are pleased that our arguments were able to convince the court," said Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, head of the German delegation to the ICJ.

This is the second genocide complaint before the UN court in connection with the war in the Gaza Strip.

South Africa accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip at the end of last year and called for the court to order an immediate and unilateral ceasefire.

The court has not done so. However, it has told Israel to allow significantly more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory and to do everything possible to prevent genocide as it pursues the militant Palestinian organization Hamas.

In Tuesday's case, Nicaragua pointed out that Israel has received €326.5 million ($349 million) worth of arms exports from Germany this year - around 10 times as much as in the whole of 2022 at €32 million.

However, according to the judges, Germany had plausibly explained that 98% of this was only general armaments such as helmets or protective waistcoats and not weapons of war.

Israel's war in Gaza was triggered by the killing of around 1,200 people in the Hamas attacks on October 7. More than 250 people were taken hostage.

Health authorities in Gaza say Israel has killed over 34,500 Palestinians in the last six months, the majority women and children.

At the start of the month, Nicaragua closed its embassy in Berlin due to the lawsuit.

Photo: MIA archive