The Nicaraguan government said in an official statement that it warned Western countries that they may be involved in "flagrant and systematic violations" of the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. regarding Israel's military aggression in Gaza.
As quoted from Republika (7/2/2024), the Nicaraguan government said it had delivered verbal warnings to the four countries regarding "the decision to hold them accountable under international law." In its verbal note, Nicaragua urged the four countries to immediately stop providing weapons, ammunition and technology to Israel. Nicaragua is of the view that Israel may use them to facilitate or commit violations of the Genocide Convention in Gaza.
The large number of casualties resulting from Israel's attacks on Gaza is proof that Israel has violated international law. According to Kompas.id, as of Sunday (4/2/2024), more than 27,000 Gaza residents had died as a result of Israeli invasions in the last four months. The number continues to increase and the majority are women and children. This means that every day 225 people die due to missile, rocket and heavy artillery attacks.
Seeing the number of deaths resulting from Israel's attacks on Gaza, it is not surprising that there are allegations of violations of the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and violations of the Arms Trade Treaty. This allegation should be tested at the International Court of Justice.
Arms trading is indeed one of the most profitable businesses in the world. However, this does not mean that arms trade can be allowed to run freely without being regulated. Because if left unchecked, the availability of weapons will contribute to human rights violations.
Weapons suppliers from any country, including Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Canada, are obliged to comply with and implement the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Besides, they also have to comply with the Arms Trade Treaty, a multilateral agreement regulating international trade in conventional weapons which came into force on December 24 2014 and has been ratified by 113 countries.
The International Court of Justice on January 26 declared it is "plausible" that Israel had committed acts that violated the Genocide Convention. It is hoped that Nicaragua's lawsuit will be successful in stopping, at least reducing, the acts of genocide that Israel is carrying out in Gaza.
