Qatar Urges Global Community to Regulate Israel’s Nuclear Facilities Under IAEA
Qatar urges international leaders to place Israel’s nuclear facilities under IAEA oversight and for Israel to join the NPT. This request, articulated by Qatar’s UN Ambassador, comes amidst ongoing conflict resulting in significant Palestinian casualties and humanitarian crises. The call includes demands for protection of UN assets in the region.
Qatar has made a formal appeal for global leaders to ensure that Israel’s nuclear facilities are monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and urged Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state. The announcement was made by Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Nations, during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.
He highlighted that all Middle Eastern nations, apart from Israel, are signatories to the NPT and have established effective safeguard agreements with the IAEA. Qatar’s statement also criticized Israel for its aggressive policies against Palestinians amid ongoing conflict, emphasizing the intensified military operations in Gaza that obstruct humanitarian aid and hinder UN relief efforts.
The resurgence of violence stems from a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which claimed over 1,200 lives. The conflict has escalated over the duration of more than 500 days, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, predominantly among Palestinians, including many children.
Alongside its call regarding the NPT, Qatar demanded the implementation of international oversight to ensure that Israel honors and safeguards the assets of the UN and various international organizations. This extends to schools, medical facilities, transportation infrastructure, and water resources.
While Israel has not publicly acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons, data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in 2024 suggests that Israel likely maintains an arsenal of at least 90 nuclear warheads.
Qatar has called for Israel’s nuclear facilities to come under international supervision, urging its inclusion in the NPT as a non-nuclear state. This appeal underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing military operations in Gaza and the need for international monitoring to protect humanitarian assets. The complex dynamics of the region continue to draw attention as calls for accountability and peace persist.
Original Source: www.upi.com
