THE HAGUE: Top UN judges will start listening to submissions next month in the case filed by Nicaragua accusing Berlin of facilitating “genocide” in Gaza because it supported Israel, officials said on Friday.
Two weeks ago, Nicaragua filed a case against Germany before the International Court of Justice, saying Berlin was “facilitating the commission of genocide and ... failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide” in Gaza.
This included Berlin’s suspension of funding of the UN Palestinian refugee agency.
The Hague-based ICJ said it will hold hearings on April 8 and 9 for both countries to make submissions.
“The hearings will be devoted to the request for the indication of provisional measures contained in Nicaragua’s application,” the ICJ said in a statement.
Managua had asked the court to take a swift interim stance against Germany before judges gave the case an in-depth study.
The lodging of the case follows the ICJ saying on January 26 that Israel must do everything to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and take “immediate” measures for aid provisions.
That interim order was given as the court moves to weigh in full a case lodged in December by South Africa alleging that Israel was engaged in genocide in Gaza.
Israel has dismissed South Africa’s case as a “grossly distorted story.”
ICJ rulings are legally binding, but the court has no enforcement mechanism.
Accusations from Israel that staff from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel prompted several countries — including Germany, Britain, Japan and the US — to suspend their funding.
However, Canada and Sweden said they would resume UNRWA aid, and Spain has pledged an additional €20 million.
Efforts haveintensified to bring more aid into the war-devastated Gaza.
