The government of Germany has strongly debunked accusations that it was aiding genocide in Gaza by selling Israel arms in a case at the top UN court brought by Nicaragua – a case that reflects a mounting legal action in support of Palestinians.
Legal adviser for the German Foreign Ministry, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday that Nicaragua’s case was rushed, based on flimsy evidence and should be thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.
Arms exports were scrutinized for adherence to international law, she said.
“Germany is doing its utmost to live up to its responsibility vis-a-vis both the Israeli and the Palestinian people,” she added, with Germany the largest individual donor of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Von Uslar-Gleichen said Israel’s security was a priority for Germany given the history of the Nazi decimation of Jews.
Germany is one of Israel’s biggest military suppliers, sending 326.5 million euros ($353.7m) in equipment and weapons in 2023, according to Economy Ministry data.
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Berlin has been one of Israel’s staunchest supporters since the October 7 attacks led by the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs Gaza, and Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Germany and other Western nations have faced street protests, various legal cases, and accusations of hypocrisy from campaign groups who say Israel has killed too many Palestinian civilians in its six-month assault.
At least 1,139 people were killed in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on Israeli statistics.
No fewer than 33,360 people have been killed and 75,993 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since then, according to Palestinian authorities.
A lawyer for Germany, Christian Tams, told the court that since October 7, 98 percent of arms exports to Israel were general equipment like vests, helmets and binoculars.
And of four cases where war weapons exports were approved, he said, three concerned arms unsuitable for use in combat and meant for training.