Germany has hit back at accusations from Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it has been “facilitating genocide” in Gaza through its support for Israel, insisting that Israeli security is at the "core" of German foreign policy.
Addressing the ICJ in The Hague on Tuesday, Germany's lawyer Tania von Uslar-Gleichen stressed Germany “firmly rejects Nicaragua's accusations.”
“Germany has always been an advocate for the promotion and strengthening of international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles,” said von Uslar-Gleichen, who is the Legal Director for the German Foreign Office.
Von Uslar-Gleichen nodded to the Nazi Holocaust against Jews during World War II in explaining to the ICJ that Israeli security is at the “core” of German foreign policy, adding: “Our history is the reason why Israel's security has been at the core of German foreign policy.”
A lawyer representing Germany, Samuel Wordsworth, argued Germany could not be found to be "facilitating genocide" because for that to be the case, the court would need to have already ruled that Israel has breached international law in Gaza. The ICJ has not however issued a ruling on whether Israel has committed any breaches of international law in Gaza.
"Nicaragua must establish that at least prima facie, the court is able to exercise jurisdiction, and it cannot do so, given the manifest absence of an indispensable third party, namely Israel".
In Monday's hearing, Nicaragua accused Germany of “facilitating genocide” through its sustained political, financial, and military support for Israel and suspension of funding to the main UN agency in Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
This post has been updated with additional comments from Germany's lawyer.