Lebanon: Allegations of Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus by Israel
There have been claims regarding the employment of white phosphorous weaponry in the South of Lebanon during the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. Human rights activists have claimed that Israeli troops have employed the incendiary chemical weapon on zones that can be either occupied by civilians or lie near residential centers.
White phosphorous is a form of material utilized in warfare by the army. It can be used for illumination, smoke screens, and signaling purposes. In the event that white phosphorous is employed in or near populated areas, it will cause burning, fires, and environmental destruction.
Allegations and Evidence
Testimonies and pictures acquired from reporters and witnesses in south Lebanon showed traces of burns and smoke. The civilians residing in the vicinity of the border zones said they saw smoke and burning after the bombardment of artillery guns in times of battle.
As stated by human rights activists, since its utilization on the battlefield may be used as a marking or screening device, the use of such in any place where civilians can be found may not be legal at all in the event that it produces disproportionate impact.
Israel’s Position
The Israeli government has also argued that the IDF’s use of white phosphorous complies with the international laws as its primary purpose is illumination and smoke generation during warfare and not as a tool for attacking civilians. As stated by the Israeli military, these attacks target Hezbollah fighters only, and efforts are made not to cause harm to civilians.
Additionally, according to Israel, the presence of Hezbollah near any civilian building limits the military operations in the densely populated region of the border area.
International Legal Context
White phosphorus and other forms of incendiary munitions may not be banned under CCW but their use is highly regulated in situations wherein the use is likely to be indiscriminate.
As regards determining whether there was any violation of the law related to the use of white phosphorus munitions, experts have recommended that it must be determined why the munition was used.
Escalating Border Tensions
The cases of cross-border shelling between the Lebanese forces and Israelis have become more frequent, and the problem has become more serious because of the situation that exists in the Middle East as a result of the Hezbollah and Israel invasion of Gaza and other places.
Ongoing Investigations
As far as concerns, controversies relating to the use of white phosphorus in Lebanon have not been finally resolved by the international community and human rights activists yet. No definite conclusions have yet been reached concerning illegal use of the substance in concrete cases.
Under the circumstances of war, there is increasing pressure on the relevant parties to investigate whether international laws have been violated or not.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond
Sources:
Human Rights Watch: Lebanon: Israel Unlawfully Using White Phosphorus
Featured Image Courtesy of Michael Dolan‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Video Courtesy of France 24 English on Youtube
