La ONG Human Rights Watch (HRW) has denounced that the Israeli Army uses white phosphorus in its military operations both in the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, and in Lebanon, and warns of the risk of its use for civilians.
“Any time phosphorus is used in populated civilian areas, it poses a high risk of excruciating burns and lifelong suffering. White phosphorus is illegally indiscriminate when detonated in populated urban areas, where it can burn homes and cause egregious damage to people.” civilians,” explained HRW director for the Middle East and North Africa, Lama Fakih.
HRW has noted that it has evidence that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have used this type of weapon at least during the day this Tuesday in Lebanese territory and this Wednesday in Palestinian territory. The NGO has verified videos that show multiple white phosphorus bursts artillery fire on the port of Gaza City and two rural towns on the border with Lebanon.
“To prevent harm to civilians, Israel should stop using white phosphorus in populated areas. Parties to the conflict should do everything possible to prevent civilians from suffering further suffering,” Fakih said.
Thus, he has pointed out that the use of this weapon in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, violates the prohibition of International Humanitarian Law of putting civilians at unnecessary risk.