The international group Human Rights Watch says the use by the Israeli military of white phosphorus shells over populated areas in the Gaza Strip constitutes war crimes.
“In Gaza, the Israeli military didn’t just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops,” said HRW’s Fred Abrahams. “It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas, even when its troops weren’t in the area and safer smoke shells were available. As a result, civilians needlessly suffered and died.”
In a blistering 71-page report highlighting eyewitness accounts, HRW says the use of white phosphorus by Israeli forces during a campaign against the Hamas-held Gaza Strip from December to January was an inappropriate use of force.
“(While) it is not considered a chemical weapon and is not banned per se, it ignites and burns on contact with oxygen and creates a smokescreen at night or during the day to mask the visual movement of troops,” the report said.
The Israeli military countered with its own assessment, saying the use of white phosphorus munitions was in line with its use among other Western military forces.
Amnesty International raised identical allegations in January in the immediate aftermath of the Gaza offensive.
“Its repeated use in this manner, despite evidence of its indiscriminate effects and its toll on civilians, is a war crime,” Amnesty said.