Human Rights Watch stated on Thursday that Israel’s use of white phosphorus munitions in Gaza and Lebanon puts civilians at risk for severe and long-lasting injury.
The Israeli military denied any awareness of the use of white phosphorus weapons in Gaza. It remained silent in response to allegations made by a human rights group that its agents were deployed in Lebanon.
In response to a Hamas rampage in southern Israeli towns that killed at least 1,300 people this week, Israel has bombarded Gaza. At least 1,500 Palestinians died. Hezbollah and Israel have also sparred.
Human Rights Watch confirmed reports of “multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus” over the port of Gaza City and two rural locations along the Israel-Lebanon border, citing footage shot on October 10 in Lebanon and October 11 in Gaza.
Two social media videos of 155mm white phosphorus artillery projectiles seemingly used as smokescreens, marking, or signaling were linked by Human Rights Watch. Both show scenes near Israel-Lebanon, it said.
The organization did not provide links to videos depicting their alleged use in Gaza. Recent footage from Palestinian TV channels shows thin plumes of white smoke over Gaza caused by such munitions.
Convention on the Prohibition of Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Protocol III classifies white phosphorus as an incendiary weapon. Israel is not bound by the protocol, which prohibits using incendiary weapons against military targets located among civilians.
