Human Rights Watch: Israel Has Used Phosphorus Munitions in Military Operations

Human Rights Watch said Israel had fired phorspor ammunition over Gaza City and Lebanon. The use of white phosphorus there is particularly worrying, as the extremely flammable substance is also likely to harm many civilians.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says it has verified videos showing Israel using phosphorus munitions in the ongoing confrontation with Hamas, including over Gaza City. White phosphorus ignites by itself in the air and is very difficult to extinguish. Therefore, when dropping over densely populated areas, there is a high probability that civilians will be harmed.

The Israeli military fired 155mm artillery shells over the port of Gaza on Wednesday and over two rural areas in the border area with Lebanon on Tuesday, the international organization reported on Thursday. She analyzed video footage of the incidents and interviewed witnesses to confirm the type of weapons used. The use of white phosphorus in the Gaza Strip is of particular concern because it endangers the civilian population in the area, the Observatory said.

"Every time white phosphorus is used in densely populated civilian areas, there is a high risk of unbearable burns and lifelong suffering,"

said Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. She added:

"White phosphorus is indiscriminately unlawful when used in populated urban areas, where it can burn homes and cause egregious harm to civilians."

White phosphorus ignites when it comes into contact with atmospheric oxygen, producing foul-smelling, dense smoke. Ammunition with white phosphorus can be used for signaling or to create a smoke curtain.

A person who comes into contact with it can suffer deep chemical and thermal burns, and the white phosphorus can also enter the bloodstream and cause severe scarring, Human Rights Watch said. The injuries also tend to become inflamed again when the wound is exposed to oxygen again, for example when the dressings are changed.

Israel fired dozens of white phosphorus bombs during Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009, causing international outrage. In 2013, when Israel's Supreme Court considered a lawsuit over the use of such weapons in the Gaza Strip, the military pledged to stop using them in populated areas. Exceptions are therefore only possible in certain situations.

Human Rights Watch urged Israeli forces to use smoke bombs instead, which do not contain white phosphorus, and also pointed out that some local companies produce them. The Israeli army, on the other hand, has rejected accusations that it used white phosphorus in its military operations last week, calling them "clearly false."

Israel has laid siege to the Gaza Strip in retaliation for last week's deadly attack by Hamas militants, which was the country's worst breach of security in five decades. More than 1,300 people were killed in the attacks and rocket fire, and dozens of Israelis were taken hostage. The Israeli government has declared war on Hamas and announced that it seeks its complete annihilation.

Officials in Gaza reported that more than 1,500 people had been killed in Israeli strikes as of Thursday.