Germany seeks dismissal of Nicaragua's Gaza genocide case at top UN court

Germany is due to ask the International Court of Justice on Monday to dismiss a case brought by Nicaragua over allegations that Berlin helped facilitate genocide in Gaza through its support for Israel. The hearings are taking place at the court in The Hague and are expected to last four days. Germany is seeking to have the case removed at an early stage rather than move on to a full hearing on the substance of the claims.

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According to the court, Berlin has filed preliminary objections to the court's jurisdiction and to the admissibility of some of Nicaragua's claims. The details of Germany's legal argument have not yet been made public. Nicaragua filed the case in 2024, after the start of Israel's offensive in Gaza following the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas militants.

The dispute has already seen one major procedural ruling. In April 2024, the court rejected Nicaragua's request for emergency measures that would have required Germany to stop aid to Israel, including military equipment. Judges said at the time that the circumstances did not justify such orders.

The case itself, however, remained open and is now at the stage where Germany is trying to end it before any ruling on the merits. The hearings matter because they test how far a state can be taken before the world's top court over its military and political support for another country during an active war. Nicaragua has argued that Germany's assistance to Israel amounts to complicity in genocide, while Germany has denied aiding genocide and has said Israeli security is central to its foreign policy.

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The outcome could shape how international law is applied to third-party support in conflicts, especially when allegations involve mass civilian harm. The case also sits within a wider legal and diplomatic dispute over the war in Gaza, which has drawn multiple international proceedings and intense political scrutiny. Germany's move to challenge jurisdiction and admissibility suggests it is trying to stop the case before judges examine the underlying accusations in detail.

If the court accepts Germany's objections, the case could be dismissed entirely; if not, it would proceed to a later phase on the merits. What remains unclear is how the judges will assess the objections and how long they will take to rule. On average, the court takes about six months to issue decisions in such cases, according to the information provided.

Nicaragua will respond after Germany's opening presentation, with both sides due to address the court again later in the week.

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