Israeli forces were accused Tuesday of the war crime of firing white phosphorus artillery munitions over populated areas of southern Lebanon as Israel escalates an assault on its northern neighbor that has killed or wounded thousands of people.
Video footage published on social media and reported by Middle East Eye shows distinctive explosions that appear consistent with the use of white phosphorus rounds over civilian areas of southern Lebanon, including the village of Kfar Kila.
While white phosphorus munitions are not completely prohibited under international law, their use in populated areas is forbidden. White phosphorus round are primarily used to create smokescreens. However, when used as an incendiary weapon, white phosphorus – which ignites on contact with air and burns at nearly 1,500°F (815°C) – can maim and kill by burning flesh straight through to the bone, often causing a slow, agonizing death. Water does not extinguish it.
Israel is dropping white phosphorous on Lebanon – a chemical weapon which causes deep and severe burns to the skin and damages the eyes and lungs.
Another crime against humanity.
Barbarism is being livestreamed – sponsored by Western governments. pic.twitter.com/m5BNb3s7K4
— Fiona Edwards (@Fio_edwards) September 30, 2024
There have been multiple confirmed reports of Israeli forces firing white phosphorus munitions in Lebanon since the political and paramilitary group Hezbollah began attacking Israel with rockets, drones, and other weapons in solidarity with Gaza after Israel’s assault on the Palestinian coastal enclave in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.
Israel is currently on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice over its military assault of Gaza, which has left more than 147,000 Palestinians dead, maimed, or missing.
Israeli forces have also used white phosphorus in previous wars, including during the 2006 invasion of Lebanon and over a United Nations school during the 2008-09 Operation Cast Lead invasion of Gaza. Responding to a 2013 petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice filed by human rights groups including Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Israel Defense Forces said it would no longer use white phosphorus in populated areas, with “very narrow exceptions” that it would not disclose.
U.S. forces used white phosphorus following the invasion of Iraq and elsewhere across the region during the post-9/11 so-called “War on Terrorism.”
This is what the mainstream media *doesn’t want you to see*…
Israeli forces using banned white phosphorus ammunition’s in over 17 towns and cities in Lebanon…
If Hezbollah rained white phosphorus over Tel Aviv there would be wall to wall coverage and every major leader would… pic.twitter.com/FZiuLhRbo8
— Pelham (@Resist_05) June 5, 2024
Responding to Israel’s earlier use of white phosphorus in Gaza, HRW Middle East and North Africa director Lama Fakih said: “Any time that white phosphorus is used in crowded civilian areas, it poses a high risk of excruciating burns and lifelong suffering. White phosphorous is unlawfully indiscriminate when airburst in populated urban areas, where it can burn down houses and cause egregious harm to civilians.”
“To avoid civilian harm, Israel should stop using white phosphorus in populated areas,” Fakih added. “Parties to the conflict should be doing everything they can to spare civilians from further suffering.”
Brett Wilkins is is staff writer for Common Dreams. Based in San Francisco, his work covers issues of social justice, human rights and war and peace. This originally appeared at CommonDreams and is reprinted with the author’s permission.
Bush and Blair said the fact Iraq used chemical weapons in wars and against its people were reasons to go to war with them. No nation went to war with the USA nor Israel for using chemical weapons, The USA used them in the so-called "War On Terror" and in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
Zionists say pointing that out is antisemitism. Arabs are Semites and that makes the USA, Israel and many other nations antisemitic.
It's lawful if used to mark targets, like a smoke round. But you see it air burst, that is for starting fires over a large area. The US Army and Marines committed such war crimes often in Iraq.
https://youtu.be/G4NCCUzpqf8?t=291
The Convention on Chemical Weapons doesn’t ban the use of incendiaries to start fires. It bans:
1) Deliberate use of incendiaries on civilians;
2) Air delivery of incendiaries on military targets in civilian areas; and
3) Ground use of incendiaries against military targets located within concentrations of civilians.
In this particular war, there aren’t many places that AREN’T civilian areas or within concentrations of civilians, though.
Israel has to be stopped, they have NO Humanity, they are GHOULS. Why do the rest of us have to play by the rules, should Arabs be using on Israel, the same the same weapons they use on UNARMED civilians? Israel/USA does NOT have more rights! Israel/USA does NOT get to dictate the rules to others! The World can NOT allow Zionist Terrorist of Israel get away with GENOCIDE! Time for the big boys to stand up for Humanity, USA will NOT, so it is up to France, Germany, UK, Canada, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, etc. If this Genocide isn't stopped ASAP, it will spread and become the norm.
You are correct except the governments of France, Japan and the five eyes do not measure up as worthy for your list.
Nobody should be surprised since I have seen this before.
Nov 2, 2023 Israeli warplanes hit UNRWA schools in Gaza with white phosphorus
Israel used white phosphorus on UNRWA schools in the Beach refugee camp in Gaza City on Thursday. Thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltered at the UN site.
https://youtu.be/NNDikWhs50U?si=KwVKSXiUNGiBIAEQ
Evil sadistic cruelty
They are not "honorable." Stop with the groveling. Plus, they know what's going on but don't care.