Israel accused of using white phosphorus in Gaza

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters


JERUSALEM, Jan 10 (Reuters) - A leading human rights group on Saturday accused Israel of using white-phosphorus munitions during its offensive in the Gaza Strip and warned of the risk to civilians near the fighting.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement that its researchers in Israel observed multiple air-bursts on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 of artillery-fired white phosphorus near the city of Gaza and the Jabalya refugee camp.

The group said Israel appeared to be using white phosphorus to hide military operations -- "a permissible use in principle under international humanitarian law".

"However, white phosphorus has a significant, incidental, incendiary effect that can severely burn people and set structures, fields, and other civilian objects in the vicinity on fire. The potential for harm to civilians is magnified by Gaza's high population density, among the highest in the world," Human Rights Watch said.

It called on Israel to stop the practice.

An Israeli army spokesman had no immediate comment.


Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUKLA617723

[IndianaGreen]

1. Robert Fisk reported that Israel used white phosphorus on civilians in Lebanon

Fisk, who lives in Beirut, is The Independent's Middle East correspondent. He reported eyewitness accounts of white phosphorus being used by Israel on civilians during the 2006 Lebanon war. Fisk is now reporting the Gazan war, and this same topic has come up again.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Gah. Just the other day I heard some journalist dude on NPR, talking about how shitty journalists...

are.

Towards the end he was talking about various horrific war situations he witnessed, one of them being a soldier sitting and dying, on fire from white phosphorus.

:puke:

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. Stay classy, guys. nt

[Idealism]

4. "a permissible use in principle under international humanitarian law"

I was under the impression that under international humanitarian law, you couldn't use WP in a civilian populated are, especially one of the most dense tracts of land in the world...

Perhaps that wasn't a law, more like a verbal agreement among nations that the US and their allies can break when they see fit (Fallujah)?

[stillcool]

5. those laws are funny things..

sometimes they mean something, sometimes not.

[chucktaylor]

7. What is the international humanitarian law pertaining to Gazan rockets?

[Idealism]

8. Any violence towards civilians is against international humanitarian law, Sir.

But if we are going to compare just how egregious certain crimes are, I think we are missing the true point.

[chucktaylor]

9. The true point being to condemn the Israeli response and to turn a blind eye to Gazan abuses.

I get it.

[Idealism]

10. No, unequivocally both are horribly wrong.

But we will never see either side punished in a court of law, yet we will see both side's civilians hurt. That is what you should be angry at here, not me for providing you with information.

[chucktaylor]

11. I have no anger at anyone.

[dwilso40641]

12. Israel terriosts

You seem to have a case of ignorance on this subject. The Israeli government has tried to steal this land by starving the people. They will not let food, water or fuel into GAZA just because they don't like who was elected. They have destroyed the whole strip with our money and weapons while people here starve.
israel is a Rouge nation and we prop them up.

[Hugabear]

15. I am so sick and tired of hearing about those fucking rockets

NOBODY is congratulating Hamas for using rockets. But GODDAMNED already. Those rockets don't do JACK SHIT. And the Israeli response is way out of fucking proportion. Shelling fucking schools? Using white phosphorous?

[chucktaylor]

16. Proportion? What exactly are the marquis of queensbury rules for firing unguided rockets at civilian

targets?

[Hugabear]

17. 900 deaths versus 23 deaths. You tell me if that's proportionate.

There have been 23 deaths from Qassam rockets and mortar fire since 2001. There have been over 900 Palestinian deaths in just this latest Gaza attack. Israel's response is far from proportionate. They're NOT just simply targeting Hamas. They've killed HUNDREDS of civilians.

But hell, who cares.

[Hugabear]

14. WP is meant to be used against vehicles, fuel supplies, ammo, etc.

It's not supposed to be used against people. But that's one of those things that gets a 'wink-wink-nod-nod' from the military. If people happen to be around those targets, well then so much the better. :sarcasm:

[bushmeister0]

6. More on this at previous thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3673116&mesg_id=3673116

[Hugabear]

13. The United States does it too

We used white phosphorous against civilians in Iraq. It should be prosecuted as a war crime, doubtful that will ever happen though.

[ShadesOfGrey]

18. This stuff is horrible. It melts skin to the bone...

"It produces a thick white smoke when exposed to oxygen, but can cause severe burns and melt flesh to the bone if it comes into contact with skin."

"He described watching his two cousins writhe in pain as he stood metres away, unable to help. “There was an explosion and white smoke. I saw my cousins screaming . . . I saw them burning and their clothes burning. I saw their skin melting.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5497338.ece