Use of White Phosphorus by Israel

GS Paper III Science and Technology

Context: According to Media Reports, the USA is concerned with Israel’s use of White Phosphorus in its offensive against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus in the Lebanon attack

9 civilians were injured in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon using what appeared to be US-supplied white phosphorus.
Remnants of three artillery rounds with serial numbers showed they were made in the United States.
Lebanon said that Israel’s use of the weapon in “repeated” attacks had burned 40,000 olive trees.

Israel- Hamas Conflict

Hamas (Palestinian politically armed group operating in the Gaza Strip) launched the present offensive(October 2023) against Israel in their long-standing Israel- Palestine conflict.
Israel declared a ‘State of War’ and in response launched ‘Operation Iron Swords’ against Hamas during Operation Al-Aqsa flood.

Know more about the Israel-Hamas Conflict, here.

It is a chemical waxy solid substance with an odor resembling garlic.
Properties: It is either colorless or has a yellow tinge to it.
- It is flammable in contact with oxygen.
- Once ignited, it is very difficult to extinguish. It sticks to surfaces like skin and clothing.
Risk: White phosphorus is harmful by all routes of exposure.
- It can cause deep and severe burns, penetrating even through bone, and has been known to reignite after initial treatment.
- The smoke also harms the eyes and respiratory tract due to phosphoric acids and phosphine.
Application: Used by militaries to illuminate battlefields, generate a smokescreen and act as an incendiary.

It falls under the regulations of Protocol III of the CCW (Convention on Chemical Weapons) when used as an incendiary weapon and not for chemical warfare
- Violation of the convention will be considered only if it is used, on purpose, as an incendiary weapon directly against humans in a civilian setting (urban area/ residential area).
- Breaching of these legal principles can lead to global condemnation, investigations, and potential prosecution for war crimes.

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

It is a key international humanitarian law instrument.
It entered into force in 1983.
Purpose: Is to ban or restrict use of certain types of weapons that are considered to cause unnecessary or unjustifiable harm to combatants or to affect civilians indiscriminately.

News source: Livemint