Germany defends arms exports to Israel before international court

Germany defended its arms exports to Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Monday, arguing that they are compatible with international law.

"All German arms exports to Israel and other countries are subject to strict review procedures that are more stringent than international regulations," she Germany's legal representative at the start of the hearing.

Nicaragua brought the case against Germany, accusing it of aiding and abetting genocide. According to Nicaragua, the arms exports violate the UN's Genocide Convention because the weapons are being used by Israel in attacks in the Gaza Strip.

At the beginning of the hearing, Germany's legal representative rejected the allegations as baseless. Germany's extensive documentation on its arms exports, which it makes publicly available, shows that the exports comply with international law, she said.

She called on the court to reject Nicaragua's request to halt German arms exports to Israel.

Germany won the first round of the case in 2024, when the UN's top court rejected an emergency request from Nicaragua. As a result, Germany was not required to halt its arms exports to Israel immediately.

However, the judges did not grant a German application for dismissal.

German lawyers are now seeking to prevent the case from proceeding to a full trial. They will present arguments explaining why, in their view, the court does not have jurisdiction over the case.

Nicaragua will respond on Tuesday. It is not known when the judges will rule.