Germany faces a hearing at the United Nations on charges of facilitating Israel's war on Gaza

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Preliminary hearings begin Monday at the U.N. Supreme Court in a case seeking to end German military and other aid to Israel, based on allegations that Berlin “facilitates” acts of genocide and human rights abuses. International law In the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Israel strongly denies that its military campaign amounts to violations of the Genocide Convention.

While the case brought by Nicaragua focuses on Germany, it indirectly targets the Israeli military campaign in Gaza following the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The deadly October 7 attacks When militants led by Hamas stormed southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people. More than 33,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip. Its toll No difference Among civilians and combatants, but she said that women and children constitute the majority of those killed.

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said before the hearings: “We are calm and will determine our legal position in court.”

“We reject Nicaragua's accusations,” Fischer told reporters in Berlin on Friday. He added: “Germany did not violate the Genocide Convention nor international humanitarian law, and we will present this in detail before the International Court of Justice.”

Nicaragua asked the court to issue preliminary orders known as interim measures, including that Germany “immediately suspend its assistance to Israel, in particular its military assistance including military equipment, for as long as such assistance may be used in violation of the Genocide Convention.” “And international law.

The court will likely take weeks to issue its initial decision, and the Nicaragua case will likely drag on for years.

The hearing at the international court on Monday comes amid growing calls for allies to stop supplying weapons to Israel Six-month campaign And it continues to destroy Gaza.

The attack led to the displacement of the vast majority of Gaza's population. The United Nations says food is scarce Famine is approaching Only a small number of Palestinians were able to leave the besieged area.

“The case next week in The Hague is likely to galvanize opposition to any support for Israel,” said Mary Ellen O'Connell, a professor of law and international peace studies at the University of Notre Dame.

On Friday, the United Nations' highest human rights body called on countries to do so Stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel. The United States and Germany opposed the resolution.

Hundreds of British jurists, including three retired Supreme Court judges, have also called on their government to do so Suspension of arms sales to Israel After three British citizens were among seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen charity who were killed Israeli strikes. Israel said the attack on aid workers was a mistake resulting from a “mistake in identity.”

It has been Germany for decades Strong supporter of Israel. Days after the October 7 Hamas attack, Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained why: “Our history, and our responsibility arising from the Holocaust, make it a permanent mission for us to defend the security of the State of Israel.” Legislators.

However, Berlin gradually changed its tone as the number of civilian casualties in Gaza rose, becoming increasingly critical of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and speaking out against the ground offensive in Rafah.

Nicaragua's government, which has historical ties to Palestinian organizations dating back to its support for the 1979 Sandinista revolution, was accused earlier this year by UN-backed human rights experts of war crimes. Systematic human rights violations “Amounts to the level of crimes against humanity.” The government of President Daniel Ortega strongly rejected these accusations.

In January, the International Court of Justice imposed Temporary measures He called on Israel to do everything in its power to prevent death, destruction and genocide in Gaza. These orders came as part of a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention.

Last week, the court ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-torn enclave.

Israel said on Friday it was taking steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including reopening a key border crossing into northern Gaza.

Nicaragua says that by giving Israel political, financial and military support and halting funding for the United Nations agency to aid the Palestinians, UNRWA, “Germany is facilitating the commission of genocide and, in any event, has failed in its obligation to do everything in its power to prevent genocide.” Committing the crime of genocide.”

Israel He strongly denies She said her attack amounted to acts of genocide, saying she was acting in self-defense. Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker told judges in court in January that the country was fighting “a war it did not start and did not want.”

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Associated Press writer Geir Molson in Berlin contributed to this report.