Qatar has condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, describing it as severe violations of international law, humanitarian law, and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) mission of using nuclear energy for peace and development. This was stated by Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Qatar’s representative to the IAEA, during the IAEA Board of Governors’ session in Vienna concerning the situation in Gaza and the Israeli nuclear threat.
In his statement, reported by the Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Friday, Dr. Al Hammadi emphasized that the IAEA’s ultimate goal of “Atoms for Peace and Development” can only be achieved through the rule of law in international relations, promoting peace, respecting human dignity, coexistence, international partnership, and suppressing aggression.
He highlighted a statement made by Israel’s Minister of Heritage in November, threatening to use nuclear weapons against Gaza, describing it as a clear expression of using nuclear energy for destruction and genocide. Dr. Al Hammadi pointed out that this threat also signifies Israel’s open admission of possessing nuclear weapons and its willingness to use them against unarmed civilians living under occupation for 57 years, violating UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
Dr. Al Hammadi urged Israel to follow South Africa’s example by permanently abandoning apartheid policies and nuclear weapons, withdrawing from the territories occupied in 1967, and recognizing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, to achieve lasting peace in the region and the world.
The Qatari diplomat called on the international community and relevant international organizations to show strong support and exert pressure for Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear state and to dismantle its nuclear arsenal.
