ICJ finishes hearings on Germany’s objections in Nicaragua case

The International Court of Justice has completed four days of public hearings on Germany’s preliminary objections in Nicaragua’s case concerning military support to Israel and Germany’s treatment of support for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. The hearings took place from September 7 through September 10, 2026, at the court in The Hague.

The next step is a ruling on whether the court has jurisdiction and whether parts of Nicaragua’s claims are admissible. That ruling will not decide whether Germany violated the Genocide Convention or other international-law obligations.

What the case is about

The case, Nicaragua v. Germany, was filed in the context of the Gaza war. Nicaragua alleges that Germany contributed to violations of international law by providing military support to Israel and by suspending or reducing support for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, known as UNRWA.

Nicaragua argues that Germany may have unlawfully assisted or facilitated alleged violations, including violations of obligations under the Genocide Convention. Those are allegations, not findings. The ICJ has not ruled that Germany violated the convention, and this case does not determine Israel’s legal responsibility. Israel is not a party to the proceedings.

What Nicaragua argued

Nicaragua urged the judges to reject Germany’s objections and allow the case to proceed. Its lawyers argued that Germany should have recognized the risks associated with the conduct alleged in the case and that the dispute was sufficiently established for the court to exercise jurisdiction.

Nicaragua also pointed to communications with German officials and public statements as evidence that the two countries had a legal dispute before the case was filed. The country’s lawyers disputed Germany’s claim that Nicaragua had failed to give adequate notice through diplomatic channels.

What Germany argued

Germany asked the court to dismiss the proceedings at the preliminary stage. Its objections included the argument that Nicaragua had not established a properly crystallized legal dispute and had not notified Germany through the appropriate diplomatic channels before filing the case.

Germany argued that Nicaragua moved to litigation without giving Berlin a proper opportunity to address the allegations through diplomatic channels. Germany also disputes Nicaragua’s substantive claims and says it reviews military exports under international law.

What the judges are deciding now

The hearings concerned preliminary objections, not the merits. In practical terms, the judges must decide whether the legal conditions for the case are met, whether the court has authority to hear the claims and whether any part of the case is inadmissible.

A ruling allowing the case to continue would open a longer merits phase involving written submissions, evidence and further legal arguments. Such proceedings could take years. A ruling accepting Germany’s objections could end the proceeding before the court examines whether Germany bears international responsibility.

Associated Press reported that a ruling on jurisdiction is expected later in 2026, but that is a forecast about the court’s process rather than a guaranteed decision date.

Why the ruling matters

The dispute has implications beyond Nicaragua and Germany because it tests how international-law duties may apply to states that supply arms or other support during an alleged genocide. It also places decisions about humanitarian assistance, including support for UNRWA, within a wider debate about state responsibility and accountability.

The coming ruling will not be a merits judgment against Israel or Germany. The immediate question is narrower: whether Nicaragua’s case can proceed before the ICJ.

Readers should watch for the court’s decision on jurisdiction and admissibility. Until that ruling, the underlying allegations remain unresolved.

Sources

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