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Israel possesses approximately 100 nuclear weapons but refuses to confirm their existence, and these weapons pose a risk to the world just like those of other nuclear-armed nations, according to Susi Snyder, program coordinator for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
Speaking to AA in Geneva, Switzerland, Snyder addressed global nuclear armament and Israel's activities in this field.
"There are 9 countries in the world with nuclear weapons. Not many—just 9 countries in the world. The number of nuclear weapons these countries possess is slightly more than 12,000," Snyder said.
She noted that each of these countries spends significant resources to increase their nuclear arsenal capabilities.
"In 2024, these 9 countries spent a total of $100 billion to modernize their nuclear arsenals and maintain them," Snyder stated.
Snyder observed that these countries have spent $415.9 billion on nuclear weapons over the past five years, representing a 47% increase.
"We've seen an increase in the amount of money spent on nuclear weapons every year. Between 2023 and 2024, there was an 11% change in nuclear weapons spending. That's nearly a $10 billion increase," she said.
Emphasizing that nuclear weapons are designed to cause massive and indiscriminate damage, Snyder stressed that these are the most dangerous and lethal weapons ever produced.
Snyder noted that independent experts have examined Israel's nuclear armament programs.
"Experts have assessed that Israel possesses approximately 100 nuclear weapons. Currently, Israel will neither confirm nor deny the existence of its nuclear weapons. But according to different media reports and information leaked by whistleblowers in recent years, this is a secret the world already knows," she said.
"These weapons that Israel possesses, just like the nuclear weapons possessed by all other countries, put the world at risk," Snyder emphasized.
Snyder underlined that when a country is party to a conflict, this represents an increased risk for everyone, especially for citizens of nuclear-armed countries where the risk of nuclear weapon use is highest.
Estimating that Israel has increased resources allocated to its nuclear weapons program, Snyder said: "Through independent investigations, we know that the capacity of these weapons has increased, especially around nuclear-armed submarines. This is a risk not only for people in the region but also for Israelis. This is a deadly game to play with nuclear weapons, and it's not something Israel or any administration should be involved in."
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