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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
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January 15th,
2009 - Israel Denies Using White Phosphorus in Gaza |
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Israel Denies
Using White Phosphorus in Gaza From IRIN News January 15, 2009 Tel Aviv - A huge fire was
raging in the compound of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA)
after it was hit by Israeli tank shells on 15 January. UNWRA spokesperson Chris Gunness
told reporters they cannot put out the fire because it is white phosphorus.
There were some 700 people in the compound in immediate danger, he said. Gunness said three of the
five shells to hit the complex were white phosphorus bombs. On 13 January Brig-Gen Avi
Benayahu, chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Force (IDF), said that in
its assault on Gaza Israel was using weapons in accordance with international
treaties and conventions. He denied Israel was using white phosphorus. ''I
repeat Commander in Chief Ashkenazi’s words: The allegations of the IDF using
WP [white phosphorus] are false.'' Palestinian medics in Gaza
have reported treating patients for burns allegedly caused by white
phosphorus. Meanwhile, Israel’s defence
minister has apologised to visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling
the attack on the UNRWA compound “a bitter mistake”. International law International law permits
the use of white phosphorus in war as a “screen” to cover army movements but
its use is highly controversial. White phosphorus can inflict agonising
chemical burns. The use of white phosphorus
against civilians was banned in the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or
Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed
to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. (The
convention was enforced in December 1983 and is an annex to the Geneva
Conventions 1949). Israel signed the convention on 22 March 1995 but has not
signed the relevant protocol III dealing with incendiary weapons such as
white phosphorus. Photographs A spokesperson for
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), an Israeli NGO, told IRIN they had
received photos of alleged phosphorus burns from news agencies working inside
Gaza. These photos are being reviewed by experts in plastic surgery in Israel
to determine whether they are indeed of phosphorus wounds. On 13 January, in response
to a query from parliamentarian Zehava Galon on the allegation that the IDF was
using white phosphorus in Gaza, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said: “The
IDF operates weapons in accordance with international law. We do not use
phosphorus, only “smoke curtains” (smoke screens).'' The answer did not explain
what “smoke curtains” are. In an interview on Israeli
TV Channel 1 on 12 January, Reserve Maj-Gen Yiftach Ron Tal said: ''Israel is
using smoke screens that include phosphoric elements.'' Eyewitnesses on the Gaza
border told IRIN they saw what seemed to be similar to what they know from
their military service to be phosphorus smoke screens. Adam Keller, a spokesperson
for Gush Shalom, the Israeli peace bloc, told IRIN: “While using smoke
screens containing phosphorus may be allowed by international law, it
inflicts terrible injuries in heavily populated areas. The IDF might be
acting within the law but it is causing grave injuries to the population in
Gaza.'' Israel previously used white
phosphorus during the second Lebanon war in 2006 and was criticised
internationally for doing so. External link: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82402 UN accuses Israel over
phosphorus From BBC News January 15, 2009 The head of the UN aid
agency in Gaza has accused the Israeli military of firing what was believed
to be white phosphorus shells at its compound. John Ging told the BBC that
in spite of discussions with the Israeli liaison, "three rounds that
emitted phosphorus" hit a corner of the Gaza City facility. Israel's military said all
weapons it used complied with international law. Phosphorus shells are legal
to use as a battlefield obscurant, but are banned from use where civilians
may be harmed. Human Rights Watch says it
has observed "dozens and dozens" of white phosphorus shells being
fired by Israel at the Gaza Strip - a heavily populated civilian area where
the group says its use is prohibited. Palestinian medical
officials said they had treated large numbers of casualties with unusual
burns that were extremely painful to treat and could be consistent with
exposure to white phosphorus (WP). The Israeli military has
declined to comment on specific munitions used during the 20-day offensive,
but said any of its weapons were used in compliance with international law. There is no way
independently to explain the contradiction between both sides' reports, as
Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza since its
offensive began on 27 December. ‘Relentless bombardment’ In an interview with the
BBC, Mr Ging, director of operations in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works
Agency (Unrwa), said the area surrounding its compound had been under
"relentless artillery and tank bombardment all night and all day". Some rounds, Mr Ging said,
had struck a part of the compound where about 700 residents of nearby blocks
of flats were taking shelter. Three people were injured in the bombardment. "Then an hour later, in
spite of our protests and real-time discussions with the Israeli liaison,
three rounds that emitted phosphorous struck the other corner of the
compound," he added. The compound is Unrwa's main
distribution hub in Gaza and Mr Ging said the shells set alight part of a
warehouse in which there were stored thousands of tonnes of food and
medicine, and the workshop area. The fires then threatened to
engulf five fuel tankers, which had been due to be sent out that morning, but
could not leave because it was too dangerous outside. "When the fires broke
out, five of our brave staff dashed down there and moved the trucks out of
the area, so we avoided a massive explosion," he said. Mr Ging told CNN the fire
was very difficult to extinguish because the smoke from WP becomes toxic if
water is used. Following the incident, UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - in Israel to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza
Strip - expressed his "outrage" and demanded a full explanation
from the Israeli government. "The defence minister
said to me it was a grave mistake and he took it very seriously. He assured
me that extra attention will be paid to UN facilities and staff and this will
not be repeated," Mr Ban said. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert said the compound had been targeted after militants had opened fire
from there. "It is absolutely true
that we were attacked from that place, but the consequences are very sad and
we apologise for it," he said. "I don't think it should have
happened and I'm very sorry." ‘Indiscriminate’ White phosphorus sticks to
human skin and will burn right through to the bone, causing death or leaving
survivors with painful wounds which are slow to heal. The international convention
on the use of incendiary weapons says it should not be used where there is a
possibility of hitting civilians. An Israeli military spokesman said it was
investigating the reports, but reiterated earlier assurances about the legality
of its weaponry. White phosphorus is
permitted on the battlefield to make smoke screens to allow troops to move
undetected, and also to impede infrared anti-tank weapons. But its use in the densely
populated areas of central Gaza City would be "unlawful", as it
dispersal would be indiscriminate and could put civilians at risk, says Human
Rights Watch military analyst Marc Garlasco. "The Israeli military
may be using legal weapons, but it is using the weapons in an illegal
manner," Mr Garlasco told the BBC News website. He said he had observed
dozens and dozens WP shells used by the Israeli army over Gaza since 27
December, both ground-burst shells and air-burst, scattering distinctive
burning lumps of phosphorus which left white smoke trails. "We are absolutely
certain this is white phosphorus, this is the singular, unique visual
signature of white phosphorus on the battlefield. Not only have I seen it for
myself but I have checked with US artillery," Mr Garlasco added. Mr Garlasco also examined a
press photograph which showed a burning lump of matter in the UN compound. He
said it "definitely appeared" to be WP, but that the photo was not
detailed enough to say with complete certainty. External link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7831424.stm Spent shells
prove Israeli use of white phosphorus, Gaza doctors say By Sheera Frenkel The Times January 15, 2009 Remnants of an Israeli white
phosphorus shell, identified by the marking on the outer casing - M825A1 -
have been found in the village of Sheikh Ajilin in western Gaza. Witnesses in Gaza said that
the shell was fired on January 9 and was taken indoors as evidence. They
recalled seeing thick smoke and smelling a strong odour in keeping with the
garlic-like smell associated with white phosphorus. Hebrew writing on the shell casing
reads “exploding smoke” - the term the Israeli army uses for white
phosphorus. Doctors who examined the shell said that it appeared to include
phosphorus residue. Residents said that they
suffered burns on their feet when they walked where the shelling had taken
place. A suspected phosphorus
victim was taken from Gaza across the border into Egypt yesterday. Abdul
Rahman Shaer, 16, was transferred to an Egyptian hospital from Rafah. He was
suffering from severe chemical burns to his face and body. Paramedics from
Gaza said that doctors at the hospital were sure the chemical agent was
phosphorus. The Israel Defence Forces
(IDF) reiterated that they would not comment on specific weaponry being used
in Gaza but added that any ammunition used by the IDF was “within the scope of
international law”. The Geneva Treaty of 1980
stipulates that white phosphorus should not be used as a weapon of war in
civilian areas but there is no blanket ban under international law on its use
as a smokescreen or for illumination. Human Rights organisations
have criticised the use of it in Gaza, saying that it was impossible to avoid
exposing civilians to the chemical because Gaza is densely populated. Israeli security officials
said that Palestinians were using phosphorus weapons of their own and that a
phosphorus bomb exploded in the western Negev region of Israel yesterday. It
was among 14 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. No one was injured in the
attacks. Human Rights Watch renewed
its appeal to Israel to refrain from using white phosphorus shells. “This is
a chemical compound that burns structures and burns people,” Kenneth Roth,
the executive director of the Washington-based organisation, said. “It should
not be used in populated areas.” Mr Roth said that Human
Rights Watch had experts in the region who had witnessed the use of
phosphorus shells. “Even if Israel might have
some minor chemical variation of white phosphorus so that the thing they're
using has a new name, the effect is absolutely the same,” he said. He agreed there was no ban
on using the chemical to protect troops. “But it should not be used in
civilian areas because there's a parallel duty to take all conceivable
precautions to protect the lives of non-combatants,” Mr Roth said. External link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5519433.ece |