U-Turn! Israel accepts using White Phosphorous

 

The incident being investigated is believed to be the firing of white phosphorous shells at a UN school in Beit Lahiya on January 17 (Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images)

 

This is turning out to be a really interesting after-math topic.

After denying to allegations of using white phosphorous, the Israeli government has confirmed the usage of the banned chemical substance in the Gaza offensive.

Subhanallah…

And as the news piece reported in The Times goes, the Israeli government is denying that they tried covering it up in the first place! Can it get more idiotic than this??? Read it here: Israel admits using white phosphorous in attacks on Gaza

The same was posted on this blog: Gaza Special – Controversial Chemical used

The Times did a brief timeline on the White Phosphorous Expose:

CHANGING TUNE

January 5 The Times reports that telltale smoke has appeared from areas of shelling. Israel denies using phosphorus

January 8 The Times reports photographic evidence showing stockpiles of white phosphorus (WP) shells. Israel Defence Forces spokesman says: “This is what we call a quiet shell – it has no explosives and no white phosphorus”

January 12 The Times reports that more than 50 phosphorus burns victims are taken into Nasser Hospital. An Israeli military spokesman “categorically” denies the use of white phosphorus

January 15 Remnants of white phosphorus shells are found in western Gaza. The IDF refuses to comment on specific weaponry but insists ammunition is “within the scope of international law”

January 16 The United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters are hit with phosphorus munitions. The Israeli military continues to deny its use

January 21 Avital Leibovich, Israel’s military spokeswoman, admits white phosphorus munitions were employed in a manner “according to international law”

January 23 Israel says it is launching an investigation into white phosphorus munitions, which hit a UN school on January 17. “Some practices could be illegal but we are going into that. The IDF is holding an investigation concerning one specific unit and one incident”

Source: Times database

Gaza Special – Controversial Chemical used

Israeli artillery shells explode with a chemical agent designed to create smokescreen for ground forces

It has been reported that Israel has been using a controversial chemical called White Phosphorus in the Gaza incursion. This chemical is usually used as a smoke-screen.

However, the same can be used as a weapon against the people. According to Wikipedia, exposure to the initial explosion of the weapon can produce extensive, deep (second and third degree), burns. Also the absorption of the chemical through the skin may result in liver, heart and kidney damage, and in some cases multi-organ failure. [Source: Wikipedia - White Phosphorus]

According to the Geneva conventions [which Israel has already broken] and Article 1 of Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, usage of White Phosphorous as an incendiary weapon against civilians and in civilian areas is prohibited.

Israel was quick to come ahead and state that it was not using the prohibited chemical.  On January 5th, 2009, Captain Ishai David, the spokesman for IDF [Israel Defence Forces], put out a statement saying ”IDF forces operate according to international law, including the use of weapons and ammunition.”

When confronted with the photos and observations of reporters/aid-wrokers regarding the exploding artillery shells in the sky [like the photo above], the IDF denied to say what were the contents in those shells.

On Friday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch compared the use of the shells to the impact of cluster munitions which scatter “bomblets” over a wide area. The group questioned whether the way the weapon was being deployed was compatible with Israel’s Geneva conventions commitment to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians.

Israel had previously used similar shells in 2006 against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Does this means all the conventions, treaties and ‘laws of engagement’ have gone for a toss?

May Allah swt protect the people in Palestine.