Palestine
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
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SIGNED
20 September 2017 |
RATIFIED
22 March 2018 |
IN FORCE
22 January 2021 |
Status
Palestine has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.
Signature and ratification
Riad Al-Malki, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Palestine, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.
Palestine deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 22 March 2018, becoming the sixth state to ratify the treaty.
In 2020, Palestine said that it was “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”.
Riad Al-Malki, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Palestine, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: ICAN
National position
In 2022, Palestine described the TPNW as “long overdue”, arguing that “there can be no rational justification for the privileged status granted, de facto, to nuclear weapons over other weapons of mass destruction”.
It views the TPNW as a “just treaty” that complements the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 and helps advance its goals.
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Palestine submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 21 February 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.
It noted, however, that Palestine remains a state under occupation, and “the occupying power [Israel] bears full and sole responsibility for any actions in relation to its unlawful nuclear programme undertaken in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ...”.
On 7 September 2022, Palestine brought a comprehensive safeguards agreement into force with the International Atomic Energy Agency to guard against the misuse of nuclear facilities and materials, as required by Article 3. This was soon after the deadline set by the TPNW.
Per Article 12, Palestine has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by co-sponsoring an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2024 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”. Prior to 2024, it did not have the right as a UN observer state to co-sponsor resolutions.
In 2024, described nuclear weapons as “inhumane, immoral, and illegal” and called on all states that have not yet signed the TPNW to do so “immediately” and to work for its universalisation.
Meetings of states parties
Palestine participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2022. It hailed the TPNW’s entry into force and the convening of the first meeting as a “victory” for multilateralism, the UN charter, and international law.
It also participated in the second meeting of states parties in 2023 and the third meeting in 2025.
TPNW negotiations
Palestine participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.
In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Palestine observed: “We are the first species to ever develop the instruments of its own extinction. But doomsday is not inevitable and the power of collective will should never be underestimated.”
In its closing statement, it described the new treaty as “an expression of the power of collective will” and “an essential contribution to international peace and security”.
Before the negotiations
Palestine was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.
Further information
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
[HIGHLIGHTS]
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|
|
|
SIGNED
20 September 2017 |
RATIFIED
22 March 2018 |
IN FORCE
22 January 2021 |
Status
Palestine has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.
Signature and ratification
Riad Al-Malki, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Palestine, signed the TPNW at a high-level ceremony in New York when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.
Palestine deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 22 March 2018, becoming the sixth state to ratify the treaty.
In 2020, Palestine said that it was “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”.
Riad Al-Malki, the then-minister of foreign affairs of Palestine, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: ICAN
National position
In 2022, Palestine described the TPNW as “long overdue”, arguing that “there can be no rational justification for the privileged status granted, de facto, to nuclear weapons over other weapons of mass destruction”.
It views the TPNW as a “just treaty” that complements the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 and helps advance its goals.
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Palestine submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 21 February 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.
It noted, however, that Palestine remains a state under occupation, and “the occupying power [Israel] bears full and sole responsibility for any actions in relation to its unlawful nuclear programme undertaken in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ...”.
On 7 September 2022, Palestine brought a comprehensive safeguards agreement into force with the International Atomic Energy Agency to guard against the misuse of nuclear facilities and materials, as required by Article 3. This was soon after the deadline set by the TPNW.
Per Article 12, Palestine has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by co-sponsoring an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2024 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”. Prior to 2024, it did not have the right as a UN observer state to co-sponsor resolutions.
In 2024, described nuclear weapons as “inhumane, immoral, and illegal” and called on all states that have not yet signed the TPNW to do so “immediately” and to work for its universalisation.
Meetings of states parties
Palestine participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2022. It hailed the TPNW’s entry into force and the convening of the first meeting as a “victory” for multilateralism, the UN charter, and international law.
It also participated in the second meeting of states parties in 2023 and the third meeting in 2025.
TPNW negotiations
Palestine participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.
In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Palestine observed: “We are the first species to ever develop the instruments of its own extinction. But doomsday is not inevitable and the power of collective will should never be underestimated.”
In its closing statement, it described the new treaty as “an expression of the power of collective will” and “an essential contribution to international peace and security”.
Before the negotiations
Palestine was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.
Further information
[PARTNERS]
[LOCALSUPPORT]