Does Israel have nukes? ‘Most of the world assesses they do,’ says Rubio

During a congressional hearing, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced direct questioning regarding Israel's nuclear capabilities. Congressman Joaquin Castro pressed Rubio on whether Israel possesses nuclear weapons, a topic that has long been a sensitive and undiscussed issue in U.S. politics.

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Most of the world assesses that they do.

Rubio responded to Castro's inquiry by stating, "Most of the world assesses that they do," referring to Israel's presumed nuclear arsenal. However, he deliberately avoided articulating Washington's specific stance on the matter. Rubio suggested that such discussions would be more appropriately held in a private, classified setting, citing the need for "delicate balancing acts between different equities."

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If they, in fact, possess nuclear weapons, and you’re right, in open-source reporting, that has come across, we don’t know what their red lines are for using those nuclear weapons. And so, I guess I’m shocked that our government wouldn’t make an effort to know, to understand and then to give our oversight body the information that we need to make decisions about the war.

Congressman Castro emphasized the importance of clarity, particularly given the U.S. involvement in joint operations with Israel. He argued that understanding Israel's potential "red lines" for using nuclear weapons is crucial for U.S. oversight and decision-making regarding military actions. Castro expressed surprise that the U.S. government might not possess this information.

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These things require delicate balancing acts between different equities, but I think you can get, probably, a more fulsome answer if we were to be able to respond to that inquiry in a different context.

Israel, a key U.S. ally, is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although it has never officially confirmed this. The country is not a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The issue gained further attention following comments by Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu in November 2023, who suggested that dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza was "an option." This statement, along with calls from some pro-Israel politicians in the U.S. for Israel to use nuclear weapons against Palestinians, underscores the ongoing debate and the U.S. government's reluctance to publicly address the matter.

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dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza was 'an option'.