International law: Germany defends arms exports to Israel at UN court

Germany has defended its arms exports to Israel before the International Court of Justice, arguing that every shipment undergoes review stricter than international requirements. German chief legal counsel Julia Monar made the argument as hearings began in The Hague.

Nicaragua brought the case against Germany, alleging complicity in genocide. It says the arms exports violate the Genocide Convention because Israel could use the equipment in attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Germany rejected the accusations as unfounded. Monar said Germany’s detailed published documentation showed that its arms exports complied with international law. She also said Germany had restricted exports in the meantime, taking into account the specific circumstances of the Middle East conflict.

“

All German arms exports to Israel and to other countries are subject to strict review procedures that are stricter than international regulations.

Germany urged the court to reject Nicaragua’s demand for an arms export halt. Monar additionally argued that the court lacked jurisdiction because neither Nicaragua nor Germany is directly involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which she described as the actual subject of the proceedings.

She said the court was being asked for the first time in its history to rule on a case unrelated to disputes between states, which she said were the matters the court was created to handle. Monar also criticized Nicaragua’s procedure, saying it had failed to notify Germany properly and gave it less than a month to respond before starting the case. Germany’s representatives are now trying to prevent the dispute from proceeding to a full hearing. In 2024, the court rejected Nicaragua’s emergency request, but it did not dismiss the case entirely.

“

Neither Nicaragua nor Germany is directly involved in the conflict that is the actual subject of these proceedings, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.