While Israel is preparing for a major attack against the Hamas militia in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu’s military forces are also being heavily accused. According to the humanitarian organization Human Rights Watch, the Israeli army used phosphorus bombs, which are lethal and banned by the UN convention: “Based on videos and witness reports, we confirmed that Israeli forces used white phosphorus in military operations in Lebanon on 10 and 11 October 2023, respectively.” te Gaza. Videos show multiple white phosphorus air bursts fired by artillery at the port of Gaza City and two rural areas along the Israel-Lebanon border.”
Israel’s use of white phosphorus in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon puts civilians at risk of serious and long-term injury. – Human Rights Watch pic.twitter.com/tsXIJW7Sdy
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) 12 October 2023
“White phosphorus, which can be used as a smoke screen or weapon, has the potential to harm civilians due to the severe burns it causes and the long-term permanent effects on survivors,” the association writes. Populated areas of Gaza violate the requirements under international humanitarian law.” Finally, the association underlines the need to review the status and adequacy of Protocol III of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), currently the only international law dedicated to the regulation of incendiary weapons. News , which was also confirmed by the Washington Post, which confirmed the content of the footage: The video shows two artillery shells fired in rapid succession toward targets, which automatically release white phosphorus when detonated.
What is a white phosphorus bomb?
White phosphorus is a substance that can cause very serious burns: When it comes into contact with oxygen, it ignites and produces a tremendous heat wave. The effects on the skin are horrific: Organic tissue burns within minutes, consuming flesh right down to the bones. They catch fire on contact with air, phosphorus is usually stored under water or nitrogen: Reaction to oxygen causes the release of heat and phosphoric anhydride, which reacts with all compounds containing water, such as the human body. As mentioned a few lines above, skin contact is lethal: it causes dehydration, necrosis and tissue destruction. It is a painful and irreversible process, to which must be added the effect of toxic vapors formed as a result of combustion, which can be fatal if inhaled.
Due to these effects, the Convention on Conventional Weapons included white phosphorus among the incendiary munitions regulated in the Protocol to the United Nations Convention signed in Geneva in 1980. The rule prohibits its use “in any circumstances on the civilian population.” It is also prohibited to use incendiary weapons “launched from an aircraft at a military target located in an area where civilians are concentrated.” Israel signed the Convention, but with one reservation: It does not consider itself obliged to respect the protocol on incendiary weapons.
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Source: Today IT

Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.