In March 2021, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes within the occupied Palestinian territories. It found Israel using illegal white phosphorus gas, which is severely lethal. In the past, Israel was recently accused of using the White Phosphorus gas against the Hamas-Hezbolla army.
After the combined Hamas-Hezbolla attack on Israel, they were forced to use the illegal white phosphorus. Israel denied the use of phosphorus, but the video evidence clearly shows the white smoke. Furthermore, residents in Gaza have reported the presence of a strong odor that comes from white phosphorus. Again, Al-Jazera’s correspondent, Youmna el Sayed, said she personally experienced the itching in her throat, chest, and eyes when she entered the area.
Effects of white phosphorus
White phosphorus is a substance that can be extremely fatal and is flammable (ignites when exposed to oxygen). The combustible reaction generates 815°C of heat and bright, heavy white smoke.
White phosphorus is highly soluble in human flesh and can penetrate the bones to inflict lethal thermal and chemical burns.
Direct touch is excruciatingly painful and can harm internal organs permanently. Even breathing in its vapor can seriously inflame the trachea.
Law against the use of white phosphorous in war
Article 2 Protocol III of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (to which “Israel” is a signatory) regulates the deployment of white phosphorus bombs, which are classified as incendiary weapons under international law.
White phosphorus bombs cannot be used against civilians or civilian-related objects, according to Article 2.1.
Furthermore, Article 2.2 states that it is completely forbidden for airstrikes to target any military goal that is situated near a concentration of people.
Was the use of white phosphorous by Israel justified?
The European Union itself has banned the use of white phosphorus against civilians. But in the video, we can see the shell of white smoke in a residential area. By doing this, Israel has committed an act of crime, according to the European Observatory for Human Rights.
This isn’t surprising, as Israel has used white phosphorus in the past and didn’t even deny the fact. They said a “small amount” was used, and they will not do it in the future. History has repeated itself as they’ve committed the same international crime and seem to not care about the law.
According to health officials, the number of individuals killed by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has increased to 493. Over 2,750 people also sustained injuries.