The International Court of Justice delivered a ruling on emergency measures regarding Germany’s arms sales to Israel. Judges opted against issuing emergency orders to halt German arms exports to Israel. While rendering this decision, the judges expressed deep concern over the prevailing conditions in Gaza.
Presiding Judge Nawaf Salam stated that the circumstances did not warrant the exercise of power under Article 41 of the statute for provisional measures. The ruling came in response to Nicaragua’s request for emergency measures against Germany over its support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Nicaragua’s case centred on the claim that Germany’s provision of arms to Israel constituted a violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention and international law. The Central American nation argued that Germany supplied arms to Israel, well aware of the risk of genocide in Gaza. This argument formed the crux of Nicaragua’s plea for emergency measures to halt Germany’s military support to Israel.
In response, Germany denied the accusations, characterising Nicaragua’s case as rushed, built upon weak evidence, and lacking jurisdiction.
Germany’s pivotal role as a major military supplier to Israel was underscored during the proceedings, with statistics revealing that the European nation dispatched US$353.7 million worth of equipment and weapons to Israel in 2023 alone. This significant military partnership adds weight to Nicaragua’s allegations and highlights the potential consequences of such arms transfers in the context of ongoing conflicts.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that neither the International Court of Justice (ICJ) nor the International Criminal Court (ICC) would be able to block Israel’s military actions. Netanyahu’s remarks follow investigations by the ICC into Israel’s operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, which could potentially lead to warrants being issued for Israeli leaders.
Netanyahu condemned the prospect of ICC warrants as outrageous, warning that it could establish a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for Israel’s sovereignty and national security.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies across the United States continue their crackdown on student-led protests denouncing Israel’s deadly military onslaught in Gaza, with over 900 demonstrators arrested in the past 11 days alone.
As Israel continues its relentless bombardment of Gaza, its close allies, including the US and other Western governments, are withholding funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which provides much-needed humanitarian assistance to the starving Palestinians in the occupied enclave. The agency’s chief Philippe Lazzarini reported that a substantial amount of committed funds, totalling $267 million, remains held up, primarily due to the withholding of contributions by the United States, despite efforts by numerous countries to reinstate funding. However, the agency has received a significant boost from recent private donations, amounting to $115 million, allowing it to sustain operations until the end of June.
This financial situation follows allegations levelled by Israel against 12 UNRWA staff members, with 190 accused of providing support in connection with the October attack. These allegations led to the suspension of funding from over a dozen countries in January. However, an independent UN review has found Israel’s evidence lacking in credibility, leading to the dropping or suspension of cases against several accused employees due to insufficient evidence.
According to Lazzarini, 182 UNRWA staff members have been killed by Israeli attacks. Israeli military attacks have caused extensive damage to 160 UNRWA facilities, resulting in the deaths of 400 people who sought shelter within these buildings.
In the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a diplomatic mission aimed at addressing the crisis in the enclave, starting with a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi in Amman. Discussions centred on halting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, ramping up humanitarian aid to the region, and laying the groundwork for post-conflict reconstruction and governance efforts.
During his visit, Blinken also toured aid facilities and held talks with UN coordinator Sigrid Kaag. Following his engagements in Jordan, Blinken proceeded to Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet.
Netanyahu’s decision to proceed with an attack on Gaza’s Rafah city, regardless of ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, posed a challenge to Blinken’s diplomatic efforts. However, Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to promoting peace and delivering aid to the region.
Since the start of its war on Gaza on 7 October, Israel has killed at least 34,535 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 77,704 others. Israeli forces have also destroyed nearly 75 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship, while also blocking the entry of essential aid into the occupied enclave, pushing the population of 2.5 million people to starvation.