Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have raised concerns over the use of white phosphorus munitions in recent Israeli strikes on Gaza City port.
Video footage reviewed by Brian Castner of Amnesty International suggests the deployment of white phosphorus.
Human Rights Watch conducted an analysis and confirmed its use based on the video and witness testimonies describing the characteristic stifling smell.
The use of white phosphorus in densely populated areas has been condemned for the risk it poses to civilians, causing excruciating burns and lifelong suffering. International humanitarian law requires parties to take precautions to avoid civilian harm during military operations.
They know EXACTLY what they are doing with the white phosphorus. It’s an extremely demoralizing weapon. It’s use should honestly should constitute a war crime, but because it also “provides the ability for infiltrating forces to provide smoke cover”, they get the benefit of the doubt regarding intended use, not the melting of flesh and bone of women and children, and other non-combatants, which is how it’s actually used.
If smoke was desired, then supplementary non-lethal smoke munitions could be used. That is not an acceptable rationale. Israel does not lack launching platforms and should not lack for smoke munitions.