Unveiling Israeli War Crimes: White Phosphorus Attacks on Gaza and Lebanon
Watan-Harrowing video clips of children in Gaza, victims of the devastating bombings and massacres within the besieged enclave, have circulated widely. This is a result of the Israeli forces’ use of white phosphorus, which the occupation has acknowledged possessing. An American official has also warned of the consequences.
In mid-October 2023, the International Amnesty Organization confirmed Israel’s use of white phosphorus bombs in its bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip.
The organization stated that the Crisis Evidence Lab had collected evidence documenting the Israeli military units’ use of white phosphorus shells in their attacks on the Gaza Strip.
إسرائيل تحرق أطفال غزة بالفوسفور الأبيض والذي يعتبر من الأسلحة المحرمة دولياً#GazaGenocide #GazaHolocaust #Gaza pic.twitter.com/aBSvKYFp2d
— قتيبة ياسين (@k7ybnd99) December 12, 2023
Israeli War Crimes in Gaza and Lebanon
White phosphorus is an incendiary substance commonly used to create thick smoke screens and designate targets. It reaches extremely high temperatures when exposed to air and often leads to fires in the area where it is deployed.
The 1980 Geneva Convention prohibits the use of white phosphorus against civilian populations or even against soldiers in densely populated areas, classifying it as a war crime.
The Washington Post confirmed that the Israeli occupation used white phosphorus shells in an attack on southern Lebanon last October, resulting in the injury of at least 9 civilians, as indicated by the examination of the remnants of those shells.
Israeli Acknowledgment and U.S. Concern
In early November 2023, the International Amnesty Organization revealed evidence that the Israeli army used white phosphorus in its attacks on Lebanon.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli occupation admitted to possessing shells containing white phosphorus, while the White House expressed concern about the use of such incendiary materials in attacks in southern Lebanon.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council at the White House, stated, ‘Washington is concerned about reports indicating that Israel used U.S.-made white phosphorus shells in an attack carried out in October in southern Lebanon.’
The official Israeli army radio stated, ‘We have smoke shells containing white phosphorus, intended for camouflage, not for the purpose of attack or igniting fires,’ according to its claim.
