© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A top U.N. court won't order Germany to halt weapons exports to Israel

Presiding judge Nawaf Salam (fourth from left) arrives to read a decision at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday.
Peter Dejong
/
AP
Presiding judge Nawaf Salam (fourth from left) arrives to read a decision at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday.

BERLIN — The International Court of Justice has refused to order Germany to stop sending weapons and aid to Israel, rejecting a request from Nicaragua.

Nicaragua brought the case arguing that by providing arms and other support to Israel, Germany is failing to prevent possible genocide against Palestinians in Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In a vote 15-1 Tuesday, the ICJ judges said in a preliminary ruling that, based on the legal arguments presented, the requirements were not met to issue such an order.

The German Foreign Ministry reacted to the decision on social media saying, "Nobody is above the law. This guides our actions. We welcome today's decision of the International Court of Justice."

It continued, "Germany is not a party to the conflict in the Middle East — quite the contrary. We are working day and night towards a two-state solution. We are the biggest donors of humanitarian aid for Palestinians."

Israel isn't party to the case, but it has strongly denied it is committing acts of genocide in Gaza.

Germany is Israel's second-biggest supplier of military hardware, after the United States, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

In early April, the head of Germany's legal team, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, said Nicaragua's case ignored "facts and the law."

"Unlike Nicaragua, Germany is not blind to the fact that Hamas also has obligations under international humanitarian law," she said.

Nicaragua's ambassador to the Netherlands, Carlos José Argüello Gómez, said during the opening of the case, "Germany is failing to honor its own obligation to prevent genocide or to ensure respect of international humanitarian law."

Germany requested that the ICJ throw out the case based on a lack of jurisdiction. The court, however, is allowing the case to continue, saying in its decision Tuesday it "remains deeply concerned about the catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."

Copyright 2024 NPR

Nick Spicer
Nick Spicer serves on NPR’s International Desk as Europe Editor, working with a team of correspondents in Moscow, Kyiv, Berlin, Paris, Rome and London.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content