Latest developments
In First Committee of the 2020 UN General Assembly, Palestine remarked: 'The exceptional status enjoyed by nuclear weapons compared to other weapons of mass destruction can no longer be justified, nor can the Non-Proliferation Treaty or its indefinite extension be interpreted as allowing indefinite possession of nuclear weapons. Nuclear disarmament is one of the three pillars of the NPT and we reject the interpretation of this treaty as giving legitimacy in any way to the possession of nuclear weapons. The State of Palestine is thus proud to have participated in the elaboration of the historic Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons and to have been among the first to ratify it, having thus joined all conventions prohibiting weapons of mass destruction. We look forward to the early entry into force of this treaty.' See: bit.ly/3frQi5Z.
Recommendations
- Palestine should encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- Palestine should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.
- Palestine should bring into force its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with the IAEA and conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP). Palestine should also sign and ratify the CTBT.
