US 'Concerned' Over Reports Israel Used White Phosphorus Munitions

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Facts

  • The US is 'concerned' about reports that Israel may have used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in violation of international law during an attack two months ago in southern Lebanon, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday.1
  • Kirby's comments follow a Washington Post report on Monday that Israeli forces shelled the Lebanese town of Dheira near the Israeli border on Oct.16 with US-made artillery shells containing white phosphorus. The Human Rights Organization Amnesty International called for the attack, in which nine civilians were injured, to be investigated as a war crime.2
  • 'We'll be asking questions to try to learn a little bit more,' Kirby further commented on the report, noting that the chemical substance has 'legitimate military utility,' including signaling troops or creating a smokescreen. If the US provides white phosphorus to another military, it expects its use to be consistent with the laws of armed conflict, Kirby added.3
  • Responding to the report, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying that 'the IDF only uses legal military equipment' and also has legal white phosphorus smoke grenades. These shells would 'not be used in urban areas, except in certain unique cases' as defined by international law, the statement reportedly continues.4
  • In late October, Amnesty claimed to have found evidence that Israel had used white phosphorus in Lebanon in three further cases, with no reports of civilian casualties. Earlier that month, Human Rights Watch blamed Israel for using the substance in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, putting civilians at risk.5
  • Per the World Health Organization, the deployment of white phosphorus is permitted when deployed for legitimate military operations, but violates international law when it is intentionally used 'as an incendiary weapon directly against humans in a civilian setting.' The chemical substance ignites in the air, is difficult to extinguish, and can cause serious long-term health damage, including severe burns.6

Sources: 1New York Times, 2Washington Post, 3The hill, 4Ynetnews, 5Haaretz.com and 6Who.

Narratives

  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Ynetnews. These allegations falsely suggest that Israel committed a war crime by using white phosphorus and damaged the reputation of the Israeli military. The IDF's use of smoke grenades with white phosphorus complies with international law and serves to obscure the enemy, not to attack. There's no reason for Washington to be concerned, as the Israeli Supreme Court in 2013 imposed very strict conditions on the army's use of white phosphorus in populated areas. All Israel is doing is defending its population following the laws of war against Hezbollah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Palestine chronicle. The report confirms accusations made by human rights groups that Israel repeatedly committed war crimes against civilians by using white phosphorus in Lebanon, but also in Gaza. While the deployment of this toxic chemical may be legal under certain circumstances, it is obvious that its allegedly purely military use near populated areas also puts civilians at risk. That the US has supplied Israel with such munitions makes it complicit in Israel's war crimes. As usual, Washington is 'concerned,' but will probably not take any further action against its close ally as civilian horrors continue to mount in Gaza.

Predictions