THE HAGUE: Germany on Monday urged the United Nations’ top court to throw out a case against it by Nicaragua, which has accused Berlin of “facilitating genocide” in Gaza with its support of Israel.

Julia Monar, representing Germany at the International Court of Justice, said judges lacked the jurisdiction to rule on the case and dismissed Nicaragua’s accusations as “inaccurate and distorted”. Nicaragua has dragged Germany before the ICJ in The Hague, arguing that its backing of Israel, notably in terms of arms exports, contravenes the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

Opening four days of hearings, Monar told ICJ judges that “the conditions on which this court’s jurisdiction is based are not met in this case”. “For the first time in the history of this court, it is being asked to adjudicate a case that is twice removed from a classic bilateral dispute,” Monar told the court, which rules on legal arguments between countries.

“Neither Nicaragua nor Germany is a party to the conflict that forms the real subject matter of this case, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” noted Monar. This meant that the court should declare itself incompetent to rule on the case, argued Monar.

The case dates back to 2024, following the start of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Nicaragua urged ICJ judges to impose emergency measures to force Berlin to halt all aid to Israel, in particular military equipment.

The court threw out Nicaragua’s request in April of that year, saying “the circumstances, as they now present themselves” did not justify emergency orders.

The case is nevertheless ongoing and Germany is now seeking to have it removed, either by persuading judges they do not have the power to rule in the case or that Nicaragua’s argument does not stack up.

Berlin has filed so-called “preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and to the admissibility of certain claims” presented by Nicaragua, according to an ICJ statement.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2026