By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel announced on January 21 that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) would begin an investigation into the alleged illegal uses of phosphorus shells in Gaza. The Israeli army states that its use of weapons during the Gaza offensive was completely legal, however, until recently refused to specify which weapons had been used.
International law forbids the use of indiscriminate weapons, or weapons that unnecessarily harm civilians. White phosphorus sticks to human skin and will continue to burn through the skin to the bone. killing most exposed to it. Although the use of phosphorus shells is allowable under international law, it is only permitted for specific uses, such as lighting up an area at night, or creating a smoke screen to mask troops. The use of white phosphorus in civilian areas is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both accused Israel of using white phosphorus in densely populated civilian areas in Gaza. Human Rights Watch reported on January 10 that Israel appeared to be using white phosphorus to hide military operations in Gaza, however the shells were being detonated in or near densely populated areas causing many civilian casualties. Amnesty International claims that Israel’s use of phosphorus in such an indiscriminate manner constitutes a war crime.
Medical reports coming from Gaza seem to support the claims that many civilians were exposed to the deadly chemical. A surgeon at the Shifa hospital claimed that he treated many patients with burns unlike those he had ever seen. He said he had already lost 60 to 70 patients due to severe burns and related injuries and that he had also been losing patients with relatively small burn injuries unexpectedly. The wounds were consistent with phosphorus exposure.
At first, Israel denied all use of phosphorus weaponry. However, it acknowledged on January 20 that it had used phosphorus shells, claiming that all use during the offense was allowable under international law. Israeli media sources have claimed that approximately 200 shells were fired, but that they were mostly fired over orchards where gunmen and rocket launchers were known to be hiding.
For more information, please see:
Associated Press – Israel Will Investigate Use of Phosphorus Shells – 21 January 2009
BBC – Israel to Probe Phosphorus Claims – 21 January 2009
International Herald Tribune – Israeli Use of Phosphorus Shells Under Investigation – 21 January 2009
The National – Israel Accused of Phosphorus Use – 21 January 2009
Times Online – Israel ‘Admits’ Using White Phosphorus Munitions – 21 January 2009
Amnesty International – Amnesty International Team Reports From the Rubble of Gaza – 20 January 2009
BBC – New Israel Phosphorus Accusation – 20 January 2009
The Guardian – Gaza Doctors Struggle to Treat Deadly Burns Consistent with White Phosphorus – 20 January 2009
Reuters – Amnesty Accuses Israel of Crimes Over White Phosphorus – 19 January 2009
Human Rights Watch – Israel: Stop Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza – 10 January 2009
