• An Israeli minister says nuking Gaza is an option.
• The minister later called it a metaphorical reference.
• Israel suspended the minister.
• Netanyahu disavowed the comment.

But is Israel a nuclear power?

• The country has been silent on this issue.
• Has never publicly conducted a nuclear test.
• Has not declared a nuclear weapons programme.
• Has not officially acknowledged having nukes.
• But it is widely believed Israel is a nuclear power.
• The 6th country to build nuclear weapons.
• Has not signed the NPT.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

• 90 – estimated nuclear warheads.
• Plutonium stockpile – 980 Kg – enough for 170 to 278 nukes.
• 3 nuke submarines – can launch nuclear cruise missiles. 

Arms Control Association

• 90 – estimated nuclear warheads.
• Fissile materials – enough for 200 more nukes.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

• Nuclear test – possibly did in 1979 – with South Africa. 
• Known as the Vela Incident or the Vela Event of 1979.
• Location – over the ocean between the southern part of Africa and the Antarctic.
• 90 nuclear weapons.
• Can launch nuclear weapons from missiles, submarines, and aircraft.
• US$1.2 billion – spent by Israel on its nuclear forces in 2022.