Israeli use of white phosphorus "clear and undeniable": Amnesty

by Heritage | January 21, 2009 at 03:45 am

1209 views | 75 Recommendations | 18 comments

Amnesty International delegates visiting the devastated Gaza strip have found,

indisputable evidence of widespread use of white phosphorus in densely-populated residential areas in Gaza City and in the north,"

White phosphorus is banned under international law for use near civilians. The Gaza strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

One of the worst affected by the use of white phosphorus was the United Nations Relief and Works Agency compound in Gaza City, where Israeli forces fired three white phosphorus shells on January 15.

"We saw streets and alleyways littered with evidence of the use of white phosphorus, including still burning wedges and the remnants of the shells and canisters fired by the Israeli army," said Christopher Cobb-Smith, a weapons expert touring Gaza as part of a four-person fact-finding team.

In related news, Arab ambassadors accredited in Austria have released a letter urging the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate reports of Israel's use of depleted uranium during the Gaza assault. The letter expresses ..."deep concern regarding the information ... that traces of depleted uranium have been found in Palestinian victims."

A final draft of the letter was made available to AP yesterday. It urgently requested IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei to "carry out a radiological and physical assessment in order to verify the presence of depleted uranium in the weaponry used by Israel ... in the Gaza Strip."

Human rights groups and medics in Gaza reported treating dozens of people suffering burns caused by white phosphorus during Israel's 22-day offensive in Gaza that killed more than 1300 people.

AMNESTY International has said that Israel's use during the Gaza offensive of white phosphorus — banned under international law for use near civilians — was "clear and undeniable".

Israel accused of war crimes

Amnesty is not the first group to accuse Israel of using white phosphorus.

Human Rights Watch made the accusation on January 10 and the UN has also said Israel used the munition during its offensive in Gaza.

Donatella Rovera, a researcher with Amnesty, said: "Such extensive use of this weapon in Gaza's densely populated residential neighbourhoods is inherently indiscriminate."

"Its repeated use in this manner, despite evidence of its indiscriminate effects and its toll on civilians, is a war crime," she said.

Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, said on Monday that she was "at peace" with the actions Israel had taken during the conflict.

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Uwe Paschen

at 05:15 on January 21st, 2009

This has to be dealt with in an international court once and for all.

Eamonn Blaney (not verified)

at 04:37 on January 21st, 2009

Now President Obama, can you please explain to me why Israel is not prosecuted and why the USA doesn't threaten to withdraw all funding from Israel unless it respects the rule of international law ?

Heritage

at 18:39 on January 21st, 2009

The USA won't withdraw anything. The US also uses White Phosphorus weapons on civilians.

US used white phosphorus in Iraq

2005

US troops used white phosphorus as a weapon in last year's offensive in the Iraqi city of Falluja, the US has said.

Powerful new evidence emerged yesterday that the United States dropped massive quantities of white phosphorus on the Iraqi city of Fallujah during the attack on the city in November 2004, killing insurgents and civilians with the appalling burns that are the signature of this weapon.

The debate was reignited last week when an Italian documentary claimed Iraqi civilians - including women and children - had been killed by terrible burns caused by WP. The documentary, Fallujah: the Hidden Massacre, by the state broadcaster RAI, cited one Fallujah human-rights campaigner who reported how residents told how "a rain of fire fell on the city".

The claims contained in the RAI documentary have met with a strident official response from the US, as well as from right-wing commentators and bloggers who have questioned the film's evidence and sought to undermine its central allegations.

You can watch the Italian documentary (in English) by clicking the link below. It was produced by the Italian state broadcaster RAI TV.

Fallujah The hidden massacre - U.S. Use of white phosphorus bombs

tikun

at 05:38 on January 21st, 2009

Let us wait and see what the investigation reveals. Amnesty is not getting its information directly. So before using the traditional knee-jerk condemnation that seems to be a matter of course on NP let us breathe a little and as the truth unfolds we will all witness the outcome with out all the sanctimonious outcries.

Heritage

at 07:56 on January 21st, 2009

Amnesty is not getting its information directly.

Directly from whom? The IDF?

Amnesty has sent a four member team to 'ground zero'. I don't think you can get more direct than that.

"We saw streets and alleyways littered with evidence of the use of white phosphorus, including still burning wedges and the remnants of the shells and canisters fired by the Israeli army," said Christopher Cobb-Smith, a weapons expert touring Gaza as part of a four-person fact-finding team.

Citj (not verified)

at 05:54 on January 21st, 2009

Israel must be judged at the International Criminal Court - Universal petition: http://www.tlaxcala.es/detail_campagne.asp?lg=en&ref_campagne=10

Laughing-Samurai (not verified)

at 16:55 on January 21st, 2009

a worthwhile petition, please sign it?

ms. negativity

at 06:54 on January 21st, 2009

The evidence is all over the internet. The Guardian has posted video footage of the remnants of still burnng white phosphorous bombs as well as the human evidence of people's charred bodies. I imagine youtube is full of similar such videos, if one has the stomach to look at them. Frankly, the abundant evidence of Israel's war crimes is too much for me to look at. Almost as disturbing but easier to watch are the horrible racist attacks of Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians. I have seen teenage girls Israeli attack and insult old women and scream such vile abuse at them that it makes my blood run cold. Living under a brutal military occupation, the Palestinians have not choice but to bear the dehumanizing insults and barbaric treatment, the likes of which no citizen of a western nation, and certainly not the Israelis, have ever experienced, except for those who are refugees from or survivors of other brutal conflicts .

ms. negativity

at 06:58 on January 21st, 2009

Israel now admits it "may" have used white phosphorus: "Israel has admitted – after mounting pressure – that its troops may have used white phosphorus shells in contravention of international law, during its three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip.

One of the places most seriously affected by the use of white phosphorus was the main UN compound in Gaza City, which was hit by three shells on 15 January. The same munition was used in a strike on the al-Quds hospital in Gaza City the same day" The Guardian

Karen Hatter

at 07:50 on January 21st, 2009

May have used white phosphorous?

What the hell is that? 'Oops! How'd that get in there?'

I had heard Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni say she didn't know what was or wasn't being used, an obvious opening for the possibility.

The effects of this chemical are horrendous when used on people and this was used on a hospital, where suffering people are already seeking treatment.

Emilio Lizardo

at 08:01 on January 21st, 2009

I just watched the video at the link Heritage provided above. It is 27-minutes in length and will definately leave the viewer speechless ...

Fallujah The hidden massacre - U.S. Use of white phosphorus bombs

WARNING - Not for Children !

tallison

at 08:52 on January 21st, 2009

They say that their can't be a clean war, as their can't be a clean missile.

The army of any nation has it's own image of awe.

When you call army it means you're calling demons.

Amy Judd

at 10:03 on January 21st, 2009

Wow, if this is found to be true, then it's just awful. I suppose we will have to wait for Amnesty's official report to make sure.

Jarrett Martineau

at 10:04 on January 21st, 2009

Thank you for posting this. Such a tragedy and such horrific news.

ZoopyDoopy (not verified)

at 11:34 on January 21st, 2009

And now, it's perfectly clear and undeniable that Hamas shoots indiscriminate rockets at innocent civilians for the sole purpose of harming as many as possible at times in the day when the likelihood of harming someone is at its highest.

Where have you been? Why have you had nothing to say about that? The answer is quite clear and indeniable. You don't give a crap about Jews or Israelis, and the lives of Jewish people mean nothing to you.

For six decades, Israelis have been decorating their country with monuments riddled all across the state commemorating locations where Palestinians have blown up buses full of innocent civilians, or blown up restaurants, night clubs, and event halls and commited all sorts of murderous attrocities. I have yet to hear anyone mention the word "crime" when it comes to these incidental tragedies.

The Israelis are war criminals? Not even the Hamas leadership believe that, but they will be very happy to know that this is what you believe. They have provoked this incident knowing full well that civlians will be harmed. How can it be otherwise, and yet they are willing to pay that price for the purpose of simply surviving to claim a victory!

That you are allowed to write your diarhea here is the real crime.

SOLARLIFE

at 15:17 on January 21st, 2009

News of the Day from France: Genocide, war crimes tracked by Interpol training

Genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity: Interpol organized a first seminar to train sixty officers from 22 countries in tracking down war criminals, meeting at the organization's headquarters in Lyon France

Barbara McPherson

at 17:25 on January 21st, 2009

Israel has given up any moral high ground in this latest round of violence.

avraham bank

at 18:27 on January 21st, 2009

funny how most of you guys blame Israel for using 100% legal weapons against 200% illegal terrorist group that was/is shelling Israel for 8(!) years...

moonwolf! Your hatred of Jews shouldn't make you lie: school was shelled not only because terrorists fired from its premises, but also because it was used as an ammo storage. The residual ammo explosions were well documented.

Hamas is fully responsible for every human life lost in Gaza. They use people & entire neighborhoods as human shields. Their purpose is to destroy Israel & they don't hide it.

If you want Peace, if you value Human Life, the only way to deal with the situation is to find the way to neutralize Hamas & other scum like it.

You shoul also put the Allies on international trial for winnig WW2...