The human rights organization “Human Rights Watch ” confirmed that the Israeli occupation authorities used white phosphorus munitions in their aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, saying that the use of such weapons threatens civilians with serious and long-term injuries.

The organization said in a report on its website published yesterday, coinciding with the release of a question and answer document on white phosphorus, that it verified videos taken in Lebanon and Gaza on October 10 and 11, respectively, showing multiple aerial explosions of white phosphorus artillery over the port of Gaza City and two rural locations along the “Palestinian-Lebanese border” and interviewed two people who described the attack on Gaza.

The organization added that it has verified that these videos were filmed in the port of Gaza City, and that it has identified the munitions used in the raid as 155-millimeter white phosphorus artillery shells exploding in the air, as well as other videos posted on social media and verified by Human Rights Watch show the same location, noting that thick white smoke and the smell of garlic are characteristics of white phosphorus.

“The use of white phosphorus in densely populated areas of Gaza violates human rights and all possible precautions must be taken to avoid civilian injury and loss of life stipulated by international humanitarian law.” The organization confirmed.

White phosphorus is considered an incendiary weapon under Protocol III of the convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons, and the protocol prohibits the use of incendiary weapons against military targets located among civilians, but Israel has not signed the convention and is not bound by it.

“To avoid harming civilians, Israel should stop using white phosphorus in populated areas… parties to the conflict should do everything they can to spare civilians further suffering,” Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said.

Amal Farhat