Qatar has urged for Israel’s nuclear facilities to come under IAEA oversight and for Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state. Qatar’s call was made by Ambassador Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi at the IAEA Board of Governors. The statement highlights Israel’s military actions against Palestinians amidst ongoing conflict, particularly in Gaza, and requests international monitors to protect UN properties in the region.
In a significant development, Qatari officials have urged global leaders to ensure that Israel’s nuclear facilities are subject to oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They have also advocated for Israel’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state. Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Nations, presented this call during the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.
Al Hammadi emphasized that, with the exception of Israel, all Middle Eastern nations are signatories of the NPT and have established effective safeguard agreements with the IAEA. He further criticized Israel’s ongoing military actions against Palestinians amid the protracted conflict, highlighting issues such as the blockade of humanitarian aid and restrictions on UN relief efforts, particularly in Gaza.
The escalation of violence began following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties. The conflict has persisted for more than 500 days, tragically claiming tens of thousands of lives, predominantly among Palestinians, including many children.
Furthermore, Qatar has requested that international monitors ensure the protection of properties belonging to the United Nations and other international bodies, such as schools and medical facilities, as well as vital infrastructure. Although Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its possession of nuclear arms, recent estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute suggest that it may hold at least 90 nuclear warheads.
Qatar’s call for Israel to join the NPT and submit its nuclear program to the IAEA underscores the ongoing security concerns in the Middle East. This initiative is part of broader efforts to address humanitarian crises arising from military conflicts in the region, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The situation remains precarious, with significant implications for regional stability and international diplomatic relations.
Original Source: www.upi.com
