Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to Germany’s announcement regarding the Genocide case at the ICJ: Shielding Israel from accountability exacerbates the misery of the Palestinia
To debate the genocide case brought before the ICJ is one thing. But to insist after the murder of 22,000 innocent civilians including over 12,000 children that such massive crimes are “self-defense” can only be construed as an attempt to acquit the perpetrator and entrench impunity.
We are deeply dismayed by the position of the German government regarding the case brought by South Africa before the ICJ, as expressed in a statement issued today by the government’s spokesperson.
This position reminds us of a similar past approach to cases relating to Palestine brought before international courts, such as Germany’s position regarding the ICJ’s advisory opinion on Israel’s separation wall in 2004, or its position regarding the ICC’s jurisdiction over the State of Palestine in 2021. In both cases, the German position proved to be wrong given the final determinations of the said judicial bodies.
Germany’s position regarding the current case also contradicts its stated commitment in support of cases relating to genocide brought before the ICJ, including a position as recent as November 2023.
It is equally surprising that in justifying this untenable position, the statement cites the commitment to “never again”. One would assume that a commitment to “never again” would prompt heightened sensitivity toward human rights violations and decisive action against massive crimes. Germany’s position regarding the current case is self-contradictory.
An earlier version of the statement confused the ICC with the ICJ. Perhaps this conflation reflected more than a spelling error. Rather, it revealed an unyielding German readiness to shield Israel from any form of international accountability, irrespective of the court, the substance of the case, or the scope of the misery it inflicts. It is deeply regrettable. We urge the German government to reconsider.