What happened:

Nicaragua announced its withdrawal from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, in which South Africa accuses Israel of genocide. This comes two months after Nicaragua initially sought to join the proceedings.

Why it matters:

Nicaragua’s decision marks a significant shift in the international petition against Israel. Israel and its allies view this as a victory, perceiving the accusations as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.

What they’re saying:

Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, commended Nicaragua’s withdrawal, labeling the case against Israel as “baseless and outrageous.” He further encouraged others to reconsider their stance against Israel.

The backdrop:

South Africa brought forth the genocide allegations following the conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023. This was after a violent attack by the Hamas terrorist group resulted in massive casualties, and Israel has consistently denied any intentions of targeting civilians in its defense operations.

What’s next:

The ICJ continues to evaluate the case based on South Africa’s submission, but Israel firmly denies the charges and emphasizes its efforts to protect civilians during military operations. Israel has until July 2025 to formally respond to the allegations.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.