Addressing the court during hearings on Germany’s preliminary objections to Nicaragua’s case, a German representative said Berlin closely monitored developments in occupied Palestine, the Gaza Strip and the wider region and adjusted its arms-export policy accordingly.
“The figures for licenses granted for the final export of arms to Israel fell significantly in the period from 8th of August to 23rd of November 2025, during which the federal government restricted its arms exports to Israel, in fact, no arms export licenses for final export to Israel were issued in the period from 8th of August to 12th of September,” the representative said.
The German side argued that the restrictions followed an Israeli military push at the time and were intended to ensure that arms exports complied with international humanitarian law.
However, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported last week that Berlin had approved nearly €800 million ($930 million) worth of military equipment exports to the Israeli regime during the first half of this year amid its ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Germany said processing of export applications resumed in late 2025 in connection with a ceasefire agreement reached in Gaza.
Berlin also claimed that its arms-export licensing policy is subject to continuous review by government authorities and judicial scrutiny by German courts.
Nicaragua accuses Germany of violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law by providing political, financial and military support to the Israeli regime, as well as by suspending funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Germany rejects the allegations and argues that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction to hear Nicaragua’s claims.