The Russian Foreign Ministry (FM) said on Tuesday that a comment by an Israeli junior minister, who expressed openness to the prospect of Israel carrying out a nuclear attack on Gaza, had raised a huge number of questions.
Moscow’s reaction came just days after Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, a member of the coalition government’s far-right party, said on the radio that the nuclear option would be “one way” to deal with Gaza, implying that not only does Israel possess nuclear weapons, but it is also willing to use them.
Russia Raises Questions
The Russian FM spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, stated that the main problem was that Israel seemed to have admitted its possession of nuclear weapons.
“It raised a huge number of questions. The number one question is, did we hear an official declaration that [Israel] has nuclear weapons? Consequently, the next questions that everyone had were: Where are the international organizations, where is the IAEA, where are the inspectors?” Zakharova said.
#Russia’s foreign ministry says a remark by an Israeli junior minister who appeared to express openness to the idea of Israel carrying out a nuclear strike on Gaza has raised a huge number of questions.https://t.co/DJkxf2fdsv
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) November 7, 2023
She claimed that such remarks by Israeli officials shed light on the underlying reasons why Tel Aviv opposes the development of a Middle Eastern nuclear-weapon-free zone.
The diplomat further asserted that the US fully supported Israel on this matter, and did all in its power to assist the latter with acquiring nuclear weapons.
“If this program exists and existed, where were the tests conducted, at what testing grounds? Obviously, apparently not in the region, then where? And isn’t the United States behind all this?” Zakharova remarked.
Eliyahu’s Comments
In an interview with Kol Berama Radio on 5 November, Minister Eliyahu was asked if a nuclear weapon should be fired on Gaza, and he stated that it was one of the options.
On Sunday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspended Minister Eliyahu from cabinet meetings “until further notice.”
Netanyahu’s office stated, “Eliyahu’s statements are not based in reality. Israel and the IDF (military) are operating in accordance with the highest standards of international law to avoid harming innocents. We will continue to do so until our victory.”
#Israel minister suspended from all government meetings over nuclear #Gaza ‘option’ remarkhttps://t.co/NE0i8QKQhS pic.twitter.com/uIGtoXmfHf
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) November 5, 2023
In a social media post, Eliyahu said, “It is clear to anyone who is sensible that the nuclear remark was metaphorical.” He continued, “A strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely required, which will clarify to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile.”
International Reactions
The League of Arab States mentioned in a statement that “The racist statements of Israeli Minister Eliyahu are revealing. Not only does he admit that they possess a nuclear weapon, but he also confirms the reality of the Israelis’ abhorrent racist view towards the Palestinian people.”
On Monday, the US denounced Eliyahu’s remarks as “wholly unacceptable.” Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a briefing, “We continue to believe that it is important for all sides of this conflict to refrain from hateful rhetoric.”
“The UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency must take immediate and uninterrupted action to disarm this barbaric and apartheid regime,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said.
Additionally, a Hamas spokesperson claimed that Eliyahu represented “unprecedented criminal Israeli terrorism (that) constitutes a danger to the entire region and the world.