A view contained in the courtroom of the International Court of Justice. The courtroom heard on Tuesday Germany defend itself in opposition to accusations that it helps Israel’s genocide in opposition to Palestinians. File picture: Judge of the International Court of Justice/UPI.
April 9 (UPI) — Germany on Tuesday categorically rejected accusations on the World Court that it aided Israel in finishing up atrocities in opposition to Palestinians within the Gaza Strip, saying the Nicaraguan case doesn’t replicate the info or present relevant legislation. He additionally claimed that he didn’t take care of it.
Tania von Ussler-Gleichen, head of the German Foreign Ministry’s authorized affairs ministry, spoke through the second day of hearings in The Hague on expenses of violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation introduced in opposition to European states within the midst of the Iranian-backed warfare with Israel. On his final day, he made his first assertion in protection of Berlin. Hamas in Gaza.
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Nicaragua launched authorized proceedings final month, accusing Germany of “facilitating the fee of genocide” and failing to satisfy its obligations to forestall violations of the United Nations Genocide Convention over the provision of weapons to Israel.
The Netherlands’ ambassador to the Central American nation asserted the nation in opposition to Germany on Monday, and Berlin hit again on Tuesday.
Mr von Ussler-Gleichen mentioned Nicaragua had “did not correctly recognize each the info and the legislation” within the state of affairs, and that he had by no means contacted Berlin to debate the state of affairs earlier than dashing to the International Court of Justice. He mentioned no.
He mentioned Germany follows worldwide humanitarian legislation and humanitarian rules in its response to the battle and is dedicated to fulfilling its obligations in direction of each Israel and Palestine.
He mentioned Nicaragua’s accusations undermine Israel’s efforts by framing Hamas’s October 7 shock assault, which began the warfare, as focusing on occupied settlements within the indictment. He mentioned they have been denying their proper to life.
“These assaults focused communities inside Israel’s borders – the state of Israel, not Gaza,” she mentioned. “Does Nicaragua assist its personal character that these are Palestinian territories and due to this fact deny Israel the suitable to exist? Germany is not going to tolerate this.”
The Nicaraguan case focuses on an roughly $354 million arms and different navy tools deal that Germany struck with Israel final 12 months, asking a courtroom to drive Berlin to stop disarmament with the Middle Eastern nation. I’m in search of it.
Von Ussler-Gleichen defended the arms take care of Israel, accusing Nicaragua of “grossly” distorting the aim and quantity of navy exports.
He mentioned that arms exports to Israel are topic to detailed scrutiny that goes past worldwide legislation, particularly given Israel’s safety threats following the October 7 assaults, and that these threats are “not of the essence.” “It’s a defensive factor,” he mentioned.
“At the identical time, Germany’s provide of weapons and different navy tools requires steady evaluation of the state of affairs on the bottom,” she mentioned.
He added that Germany can also be the biggest particular person donor of humanitarian help to the Palestinians, offering $221 million final 12 months and greater than $55 million to date this 12 months. And monetary assist for the Palestinians has tripled since October 7, she added.
He went on to say that Germany helps the concept of a two-state answer to the Israeli-Palestinian battle and condemns efforts to undermine it even throughout wartime.
“There is little question about Germany’s place,” she mentioned.
Israel has repeatedly denied violating the UN Genocide Convention and faces two different lawsuits over its remedy of Palestinians. One case is predicated on a United Nations General Assembly decision adopted in 2022, and the opposite is introduced by South Africa in opposition to Israel over the warfare in Gaza.
In late January, the courtroom issued a ruling ordering Israel to take speedy steps to cease the atrocities being dedicated in Gaza whereas contemplating its remaining judgment within the South Africa case. South Africa has since known as for additional provisions to be added to replicate the deteriorating state of affairs in Gaza.
In February, the courtroom heard six days of arguments in a case associated to a UN decision over Israel’s almost 60-year occupation of Palestinian territory, with an advisory opinion anticipated to be launched at a later date.
Israel has been at warfare with Hamas within the Gaza Strip because the October 7 assault, which resulted within the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of one other 253 hostages.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, greater than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed because the warfare started.