White Phosphorus In Gaza: From Flat Denial To Final Admission

[Purveyor]

The “media buzz” to which Israel claims to have bowed began on the morning of January 5. The Times broke news that Israel was using white phosphorus against Gaza and carried a photograph of the distinctive white plumes above densely populated civilian streets. The Israeli military was quick to deny the story, but as the days and weeks wore on, the evidence mounted.

Sheera Frenkel, a Times correspondent in Israel, first heard that Israel was using the incendiary weapon from a former military source. Michael Evans, the defence editor of The Times, then showed defence experts photographs of the shells exploding. They confirmed the finding.

White phosphorus itself is not illegal if used on the battlefield against combatants. Its primary use is as a smokescreen for advancing troops. The controversy in this case was its use in civilian areas where particles of ignited white phosphorus could fall on non-combatants, burning them through to the bone.

Israel's refusal to allow journalists to enter Gaza complicated efforts to follow up the story. On January 8 The Times published accounts from Palestinian doctors contacted by telephone in Gaza of casualties with “strange, very deep burns”.

Times correspondents later established incontrovertible proof that white phosphorus shells were being used after tracing the serial numbers of shells photographed on both sides of the conflict - first stacked beside an Israeli howitzer on January 4, then later partially exploded on the Gazan side.

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TIMES UK: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6150430.ece

[Howardx]

1. you might want to quote this one as well

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6150448.ece

[stray cat]

2. They had admitted using it as a smoke screen right?

[Howardx]

3. eventually

Until now the IDF has denied the Times accounts. On January 7 a military spokeman said that the shells in question had “no explosives and no white phosphorus”. Yet it was clear from yesterday's briefing by Major-General Dan Harel, the IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, that commanders were concerned by the controversy. “Since this was a big buzz in the media, we issued an order 7 Jan '09 to stop using white phosphorus shells,” he said, adding: “These shells were used only to create smokescreens, in keeping with international law.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6150448.ece

[IndianaGreen]

4. On population centers it is not considered a smoke screen.

It was a war crime!

[LeftishBrit]

5. The use of white phosphorus needs to be banned completely

Restricting it to use for disguise obviously doesn't work; once such a thing is available in a war zone it's bound to get used on people.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

6. Do you condemn the nation of Israel for knowingly using this in population centers?

Can you point the finger without equivocation?

[LeftishBrit]

7. Yes.

I unequivocally condemn any nation/army that does this.

Israel was utterly wrong to do so.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

10. Thanks for clarifying that. nt

[Violet_Crumble]

9. I agree there needs to be a complete ban..

I read in the HRW report on its use in Gaza that there were other alternatives available which had been used in Gaza before, and this was the first time WP had been used there. Along with flechettes and cluster bombs, there needs to be a total ban on it...

[Douglas Carpenter]

8. Human Rights Watch Video: Rain of Fire: White Phosphorus in Gaza

I hope EVERYONE watches this film, downloads it and passes it on to EVERYONE on their address book!!

The most powerful and moving 6-minute film I have ever seen!!

Please do this NOW!!


Rain of Fire: Israel's Unlawful Use of White Phosphorous in Gaza

link:

http://www.hrw.org/features/rain-fire-white-phosphorus-gaza

link on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRuzEs9Y5KE



link to 71-page Human Rights Watch Report on the use of White Phosphorus in the Gaza:


http://www.hrw.org/node/81760