According to Palestine, Israeli forces allegedly used white phosphorous weapons in an attack against the Gaza territory.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry asserted on social media on Tuesday that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) used white phosphorus weapons in its attacks against Gaza. Additionally, a video of the supposed strike’s aftermath was provided by the organisation.
International law does not forbid the use of white phosphorus bombs, but it strictly regulates their usage. The 1980 UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons states that these weapons should not be deployed in densely populated areas due to the danger they represent to civilians.
A huge, empty area near buildings is shown in a video posted by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry on X (previously Twitter) covered in a significant number of little flare-like objects that are still burning and emitting dense white smoke. The video does not show any casualties or recent damage to the neighbouring structures.
According to the ministry’s commentary for the video, “The Israeli occupation is using white phosphorus bombs against the Palestinians in the Karama neighbourhood in northern Gaza, which are prohibited by international law.”
Because they can emit a lot of smoke, white phosphorus-filled weapons are frequently used by the military to set up smokescreens and hide the movement of troops. Enemy targets can also be marked with it. But they are also extremely hazardous to humans because of their incendiary properties.
White phosphorus reacts with oxygen to ignite when it comes into touch with air. It burns between 800 and 2,500 degrees Celsius. With a wax-like consistency, the substance readily adheres to a variety of surfaces, including clothing and skin, and is quite challenging to remove or put out. The material is known to produce severe burns that can reach the bone, and even after first treatment, any leftovers in human tissue run the risk of re-igniting when they come into touch with air.
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The video that the Palestinian authorities posted on X does not specify when or where it was shot. White phosphorus weapons have reportedly been employed by Israel frequently in the past. The Israeli army acknowledged utilising these weapons during its lengthy conflict with the Lebanese militant organisation Hezbollah in 2006. Despite several media allegations that the munitions were specifically shot at regions with civilian populations, Israel stated at the time that it employed them in line with international law.
Israel admitted in 2009 that it had used “munitions containing white phosphorus” in its attack in Gaza from December 2008 to January 2009.
Human Rights Watch previously harshly criticised the country’s military for their activities, calling them “evidence of war crimes.” The media claims that the use of these weapons also resulted in a UN facility in Gaza partially catching fire when it came into touch with the ignitable material at the time.
Israel announced in April 2013 that it would stop deploying white phosphorus ammunition and instead use gaseous materials to produce smokescreens. Since then till now, there haven’t been any further reports of its use by the IDF.
Israel has not yet responded to the assertion made by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.
The news was released as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was in the midst of its most recent flare-up following the militant organisation Hamas’ weekend attack on Israel. Israeli authorities have reported that more than 1,000 Israelis were killed during the initial assault and subsequent confrontations.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, West Jerusalem’s major bombing campaign against Gaza in retaliation resulted in the deaths of over 800 Palestinians. The UN announced on Tuesday that it would open a war crimes probe into both sides, citing “clear evidence” of legal transgressions.
