Qatar Urges International Efforts to Address Israel’s Nuclear Status Amid Gaza Talks

In a surprising move, Qatar’s ambassador urged the international community to bring Israel’s nuclear facilities under IAEA oversight and for Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state. This announcement complicates ongoing Gaza peace negotiations and highlights Israel’s ambiguous nuclear status. The SIPRI reports indicate Israel maintains around 90 nuclear warheads, contributing to geopolitical tensions in the region. ICAN supports Qatar’s initiative, emphasizing the necessity of a nuclear-free Middle East for sustainable peace.

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday, Qatar’s ambassador to Austria, Jassim Yacoub Al-Hammadi, made a pivotal announcement during a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. Qatar called for intensified international efforts to ensure that Israel’s nuclear facilities come under IAEA safeguards and urged Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state. This unexpected stance adds a new layer to the ongoing Gaza peace negotiations in Doha.

The declaration surprised many in the international community, including the Israeli delegation en route to Doha for talks. Israel has not officially acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons, but its nuclear capability is widely recognized. According to the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI), by early last year, nine nations possessed roughly 12,121 nuclear warheads, with Israel estimated to have approximately 90.

SIPRI attributes Israel’s estimated nuclear arsenal, capable of delivering strikes within a 4,500 km range, to its F-15 and F-16I aircraft, Jericho missiles, and submarines. However, the potential damage of Israel’s arsenal is significant, especially considering Iran’s current lack of nuclear capabilities. SIPRI highlights the ambiguity surrounding Israel’s nuclear capabilities, emphasizing that “all figures are approximate” due to Israel’s policy of nuclear ambiguity since the 1960s.

This ambiguity leads to speculation about the origins of Israel’s nuclear weapons, with historical suspicions of American collaboration or testing with apartheid-era South Africa adding to the intrigue. Prominent figures, including Dan Smith, Director of SIPRI, have remarked on the peculiar nature of Israel’s nuclear status in Middle Eastern geopolitics, noting that unlike nations openly declaring their nuclear capabilities, Israel maintains strategic silence.

Israel’s efforts to safeguard its nuclear secrets are well-documented. Observers, such as Ahron Bregman from King’s College London, assert that an atmosphere of fear prevails surrounding the divulging of Israel’s nuclear information, as evidenced by the fate of Mordechai Vanunu, who was imprisoned after revealing details of Israel’s nuclear program. These actions accentuate the belief that Israel possesses nuclear capabilities, fostering continual speculation.

Recent SIPRI assessments indicate that Israel is actively modernizing its nuclear arsenal, raising concerns among regional powers. Smith suggests that Qatar’s initiative reflects a regional consensus regarding Israel’s nuclear monopoly. He argues that incorporating Israel’s nuclear status into the conversation on a non-nuclear Middle East is a vital step for both peace and regional security.

Israel has allegedly come close to deploying its nuclear weapons on multiple occasions, notably during the 1967 and 1973 wars, adding a layer of historical tension to its nuclear policy. SIPRI points to recent discussions among Israeli policymakers advocating for nuclear action against Hamas, further complicating the security landscape.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has welcomed Qatar’s proposition, stating that it is overdue for Israel’s nuclear facilities to be placed under international safeguards. ICAN expresses that achieving a nuclear-free Middle East requires comprehensive disarmament initiatives involving Israel and neighboring states, emphasizing that without such measures, lasting peace remains unattainable.

Qatar’s call for international oversight of Israel’s nuclear capabilities adds complexity to the ongoing peace talks in Gaza. This development not only underscores the ambiguity surrounding Israel’s nuclear arsenal but also highlights the urgent need for disarmament in the region. As regional powers, including Qatar, advocate for a non-nuclear Middle East, the dynamics surrounding Israel’s nuclear policy will remain a pivotal issue in ensuring long-term peace and security.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com