Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitionsin its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, endangering civilians.Israel’s military responded that it was not aware of white phosphorus usein Gaza and made no comment regarding Lebanon.
The backdrop of these accusations is Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gazaafter a Hamas attack in southern Israeli towns, resulting in casualties onboth sides. Tensions have also risen with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.
HRW claimed to have verified videos from Lebanon and Gaza depictingairbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus, posting links to two videosshowing the alleged use near the Israel-Lebanon border.
However, HRW didn’t provide videos as evidence of white phosphorus use inGaza. Palestinian TV channels have shown videos of white smoke plumes inGaza, attributing them to such munitions, but Reuters couldn’tindependently confirm these claims.
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In 2013, Israel’s military stated it was phasing out white phosphorussmokescreen munitions, previously used during its 2008-2009 Gaza offensive.White phosphorus has legal battlefield applications such as creating smokescreens, illumination, marking targets, or incinerating enemy positions.
While not banned as a chemical weapon under international conventions dueto its legal uses, white phosphorus can inflict severe burns and causefires.