Germany asks ICJ to dismiss Nicaragua genocide case

Germany asked the International Court of Justice on Monday to dismiss a case brought by Nicaragua that accuses Berlin of facilitating genocide in Gaza by supplying arms and military support to Israel. Lawyers for Germany are presenting preliminary objections to the court's jurisdiction and the admissibility of Nicaragua's claims during four days of hearings that began September 7, 2026, at the UN's top court in The Hague. Nicaragua, which broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024 over the war in Gaza, filed the case in 2024, alleging Germany is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. Germany has denied the accusations, stating its case is "grossly biased" and that it strongly denies being in breach of the convention. According to Germany's legal team, Nicaragua did not follow proper procedures before bringing the case to the court and much of the claim falls outside the court's jurisdiction under the genocide treaty.