Nuclear Strike on Gaza? Israeli minister's proposal ignites fierce debate
Amichay Eliyahu, the Israeli Minister of Heritage who represents the Jewish Power Party, has suggested the idea of launching a nuclear bomb on Gaza to contend with Hamas. The following text elaborates on the nuclear firepower at Israel's disposal.
Although there has been no official confirmation or denial, Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weaponry. This was corroborated by Mordechai Vanunu who, back in 1986, was involved in the nuclear program and shared Israel's nuclear secrets with global media.
Israel reportedly has between 300-500 warheads available, about 80 of which are likely primed for immediate use. This places Israel among the most formidable nuclear powers worldwide. Absence of official verification means that Israel's nuclear capabilities and research remain unmonitored by international standards.
Israel’s stance on using nuclear weapons
To Israel, nuclear weapons serve not only as a security guarantee but also as a deterrent. Historical reports suggest that Israeli decision-makers were prepared to deploy nuclear charges on at least two occasions - during the planning phases of two operations codenamed "Samson", preceding the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
However, nuclear detonations were considered unnecessary in those cases, as the Israeli military managed to outmatch their numerically superior foes with conventional warfare tactics.
The hypothetical third scenario for deploying Israeli nuclear weapons occurred during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when Iraq's Saddam Hussein targeted Israel with Scud missiles.
During that period, ready-for-launch Israeli ballistic missiles - known as Jericho and equipped with nuclear warheads - were on standby. They were designated for launch in the event that Iraq decided to utilize biological or chemical weapons against Israel, which ultimately did not transpire.
