IOF employ internationally prohibited white phosphorus bombs in Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
9 Oct 2023 22:57
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Israeli exceptionalism persists as the international community turns a blind eye to white phosphorus bombs and condemns the Palestinian people's Resistance instead.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati' refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, October 9, 2023 (AP)

The Israeli occupation Air Force has conducted hundreds of consecutive and violent airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting towers, residential buildings, and service facilities, causing devastating destruction to civilian properties and infrastructure and resulting in the deaths and injuries of mostly women, children, and elderly.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported that the occupation is employing white phosphorus bombs in its brutal attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

Since Saturday, when Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was launched, Israeli occupation forces have employed white phosphorus bombs during their airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. More than 600 Palestinians have been killed so far, and no fewer than 2,900 other citizens have been injured in various ways, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Chemical Properties

White phosphorus is a combustible (ignites when exposed to oxygen) and a severely fatal chemical. The combustible reaction produces light, heavy white smoke, and heat of about 815°C.

White phosphorus is highly soluble in human flesh and causes deadly thermal and chemical burns that can go as deep as the bones.

Direct contact is extremely excruciating and can leave long-lasting damage to internal organs. Even inhaling its vapor can cause severe inflammation in the trachea.

Under International Law

The use of white phosphorus bombs, which fall under the category of incendiary weapons in international law, is governed by Article 2 Protocol III of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (to which "Israel" is a signatory).

Article 2.1 reads that the use of white phosphorus bombs against civilians and civilian objects is absolutely prohibited.

The dangers posed by #WhitePhosphorus to civilians are well-known to Israeli commanders, who have used and are still using the munition on #Palestinians.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/povBKz0ZVj
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 9, 2023

Furthermore, Article 2.2 specifies that even targeting any military objective located within a concentration of civilians by airstrikes is also categorically prohibited.

Israeli precedents in employing Phosphorus

The Israeli occupation forces had long used various internationally prohibited weapons against civilians in violation of international humanitarian law.

Israeli occupation forces employed white phosphorus bombs in 2006 against Lebanese civilians, in 2008-2009 against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and again in 2014 against civilians in Gaza.

In all three wars, "Israel" claimed to use phosphorus bombs for illumination purposes.