Israel has been accused of using white phosphorus munitions in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the use of such weapons is putting civilians at risk of long term injuries.
Asked for comment on the accusations made by the Human Right Watch, Israel’s military said it was “currently not aware of the use of weapons containing white phosphorous in Gaza”.
White phosphorus munitions can legally be used on battlefields to make smoke screens, generate illumination, mark targets or burn bunkers and buildings.
Because of this, the material is not banned as a chemical weapon despite its ability to cause serious burns and start fires.
Israel has been bombing Gaza in retaliation to the attacks carried out by Hamas which killed at least 1,200 people.
Human Rights Watch said it verified videos taken in Lebanon on October 10 and Gaza on October 11 showing “multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along the Israel-Lebanon border”.
White phosphorous is considered an incendiary weapon under Protocol III of the Convention on the Prohibition of Use of Certain Conventional Weapons, which prohibits using incendiary weapons against military targets located among civilians, although Israel has not signed it and is not bound by it.
The Human Rights Watch said on Thursday: “White phosphorous is unlawfully indiscriminate when airburst in populated urban areas, where it can burn down houses and cause egregious harm to civilians.”
Palestinian TV channels have broadcast video in recent days showing thin plumes of white smoke lining the sky over Gaza that they say was caused by such munitions.
Israel’s military said in 2013 it was phasing out white phosphorus smokescreen munitions used during its 2008-2009 offensive in Gaza, which drew war crimes allegations from various rights groups.
They did not confirm whether they would review the use of the material which burns fiercely.
This morning, Israel’s Defence Force issued an evacuation order to some 1.1 million people living in the Gaza Strip, giving them 24 hours to leave their homes ahead of what is presumed to be a ramping up of airstrikes, or a ground assault.
But Hamas has called on Palestinians to stay inside their homes.
