Gaza Victims' Burns Increase Concern Over Phosphorus

[babylonsister]

Gaza Victims' Burns Increase Concern Over Phosphorus

by Michael Evans and Sheera Frenkel



JERUSALEM - Photographic evidence has emerged that proves that Israel has been using controversial white phosphorus shells during its offensive in Gaza, despite official denials by the Israel Defence Forces.

There is also evidence that the rounds have injured Palestinian civilians, causing severe burns. The use of white phosphorus against civilians is prohibited under international law.

The Times has identified stockpiles of white phosphorus (WP) shells from high-resolution images taken of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) artillery units on the Israeli-Gaza border this week. The pale blue 155mm rounds are clearly marked with the designation M825A1, an American-made WP munition. The shell is an improved version with a more limited dispersion of the phosphorus, which ignites on contact with oxygen, and is being used by the Israeli gunners to create a smoke screen on the ground.

The rounds, which explode into a shower of burning white streaks, were first identified by The Times at the weekend when they were fired over Gaza at the start of Israel's ground offensive. Artillery experts said that the Israeli troops would be in trouble if they were banned from using WP because it is the simplest way of creating smoke to protect them from enemy fire.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/01/09

[thereismore]

1. War crimes in Fallujah by the Sea. nt

[EFerrari]

2. The use of phosphorus is being reported in the Middle Eastern media

with video. One can go to the "Mosaic" website to see it. I don't know enough about arms to judge but "Mosaic" usually dosen't report cr@p.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. It's been admitted by Israel as well.

But they claim that they're using it for smokescreening and nothing else.

[EFerrari]

7. The IDF spokes liar is on tape saying, these weapons are not banned

AND we are not using them. She's the Israeli Tori Clarke.

[mod mom]

13. they are permitted in battle "where there were no civilians near the target area"

CLEARLY NOT THE CASE IN GAZA WHERE THERE ARE CIVILIANS! THE USE IS HORRIFIC AND SHOULD NOT BE USED WHERE THERE ARE ANY LIVING CREATURES-IMHO!


White phosphorus is highly flammable and ignites on contact with oxygen. If the substance hits someone's body, it will burn until deprived of oxygen.

Globalsecurity.org, a defence website, says: "Phosphorus burns on the skin are deep and painful... These weapons are particularly nasty because white phosphorus continues to burn until it disappears... it could burn right down to the bone."

A spokesman at the UK Ministry of Defence said the use of white phosphorus was permitted in battle in cases where there were no civilians near the target area.

-snip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

15. I don't see any way...

...that they could justify its use in built up areas.

[laststeamtrain]

3. K & R - n/t

[Snarkoleptic]

4. Israel to press "Hush". The amount of video coming out is slowing to a trickle.

The whole world is watching....er trying to watch.
Here's a link to a newscast that just surfaced about an attack on the only TV news outlet with intact facilities in Gaza.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a33_1231520078
Don't forget though...they hate us for our freedom...right?

[soulcore]

6. Thanks for that link.

Finding coverage that is truthful and not scewed by the IDF propaganda is getting more and more difficult.

[bunnies]

8. and they STILL deny it!

"Confronted with the latest evidence, an IDF spokeswoman insisted that the M825A1 shell was not a WP type. "This is what we call a quiet shell - it is empty, it has no explosives and no white phosphorus. There is nothing inside it," she said."

Did she forget where that damn thing was made?! :wtf:

[Recursion]

9. So are they just firing it for fun?

What the hell is the point of an empty shell?

[bunnies]

11. exactly.

It seems that someone took a page from the George W. Bush book on lying.

Lets see... we have photos of the IDF with American made WP missiles, photos of WP missiles exploding over Gaza, and victims of WP missiles being treated for burns.

hmmm. No WP missiles being used here! These missiles rain flowers! :eyes:

[TahitiNut]

14. Lying has apparently become a habit with the IDF.

The M825A1 shell is purported to be a dual-use munition - smoke and incendiary. It's a very poor "smoke" weapon. Its incendiary potential is due to white phosphorus. Willie Pete. It's "legal" when used to target military STRUCTURES and patently "illegal" when civilians are in the target zone. As an anti-personnel munition, it's arguable. (Most would regard its deliberate use against human beings to be a war crime.) In other words, the weapon itself isn't "illegal" but the use to inflict unquenchable burns on a human being is "illegal."

The IDF is clearly targeting civilians and residences.

It's no accident that the smoke trails all spread downwards from the air burst. The weapon is designed to spray the area below with material impregnated with white phosphorus. God help anyone hit by one or more.

[mmonk]

10. Where did they get that idea from?

[Barack_America]

12. This is getting to be quite a list...

1). Targeting civilians (the house bombing where 30 died and the UN school bombing where 40 died)

2). Targeting the press (the bombing of Iranian-based Press TV today)

3). Targeting an international aid convoy (the death of a UN convoy driver yesterday)

4). Denying medical access to injured civilians (the children found starving next to their dead mothers, among other claims from the International Red Cross yesterday)

5). Use of illegal weapons

What did I miss?

[Leftist Agitator]

16. So, the Zionist band of war criminals DOES have WMD?

Quick, Bush! Invade INVADE! WMDs! Nookular! *dead*