Qatar Calls for Israel’s Nuclear Facilities to Be Under IAEA Supervision

Qatar has called on the international community to place all of Israel’s nuclear sites under the watchful eye of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This was said by Qatar’s UN Ambassador, Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Saturday. Al Hammadi stressed the need to implement international obligations citing UN Security Council resolutions, the UN General Assembly, the IAEA and the 1995 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. The resolutions particularly require Israel to bring all its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.

Israel has never officially admitted to having nuclear weapons but it is generally accepted to have some 90 nuclear warheads. All the states of the Middle East with the exception of Israel are signatories to the NPT and have arrangements with the IAEA to maintain nuclear safeguards.

Al Hammadi also criticized Israel’s persistent aggressive policies such as trying to displace Palestinians by force and increasing military operations in the West Bank and Gaza. Qatar recently filed a memorandum with the International Court of Justice, asking for an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations in accordance with the UN General Assembly’s December 19, 2024 resolution. This resolution calls upon Israel to enable humanitarian organizations, particularly UNRWA to work in the occupied Palestinian territory and to safeguard UN property.

Al Hammadi concluded by invoking the international community to hold Israel responsible for its actions and strive for regional stability.