Use of White Phosphorus by Israel

12 Dec 2023

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. 

About White Phosphorus

  • 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.

Legal status

  • 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

 

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