Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza; Does it amount to war crime?

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that Israel used white phosphorus to target the Gaza Strip. The allegations by HRW were based on verified video and witness accounts from October 10 and 11. However, the allegations were rejected by Israel’s military as “unequivocally false.”

Lama Fakih, Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa director and the director of the Beirut office, said, “Any time that white phosphorus is used in crowded civilian areas, it poses a high risk of excruciating burns and lifelong suffering.”

Has Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza? Does it amount to war crime? What’s the reality? What happened to Israelis and Palestinians?

Using white phosphorus amount to war crime

White phosphorus is an incendiary weapon. It can cause deep burns that go down to the bones. This is “war crime” and “crime against humanity.” When white phosphorus is exposed to the air, it causes burns as hot as 1499°F. 

If a civilian is hit by white phosphorus, then they can die. It can cause severe fires on the body. International law forbids white phosphorus usage in populated areas. It can also cause organ failures.

Omar Shakir, who serves as the Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, said that white phosphorus can be harmful for the millions of people living in Gaza. 

Omar Shakir also said that Israel used white phosphorus on a civilian population during the 2008-9 war in Gaza, controlled by Hamas militants.

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Has Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza?

HRW said that Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza. Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, said that some people in Gaza experienced the effect of white phosphorus. Some people in Gaza said that white phosphorus was used amid the war. It created light and smoke. 

Crime against humanity

The ongoing conflict between Israelis and Hamas militants has increased violence in Israel and The Gaza Strip. Hamas militants have kidnapped civilians, including women and babies. Women are also at risk as Hamas has been using rape as a weapon of war.

Witnesses also said that  Hamas militants raped various young women and girls amid the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that Hamas raped various women and killed numerous small babies. The United States President Joe Biden said that Hamas beheaded 40 babies. Many Israelis had also been taken hostage by the Hamas militants.