Rights Group: Israel Used Incendiary Bombs

Human Rights Watch Says Chemical White Phosphorus Used In Gaza Strip Military Campaign

(CBS/AP)  Human Rights Watch said Sunday that Israel's military has fired artillery shells with the incendiary agent white phosphorus into Gaza and a doctor there said the chemical was suspected in the case of 10 burn victims who had skin peeling off their faces and bodies.

Researchers in Israel from the rights group witnessed hours of artillery bombardments that sent trails of burning smoke indicating white phosphorus over the Jebaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. But they could not confirm injuries on the ground because they have been barred from entering the territory.

The chief doctor at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza said he treated several victims there with serious burns that might have been caused by phosphorus. He said, however, that he did not have the resources or expertise to say with certainty what caused the injuries.

The substance can cause serious burns if it touches the skin and can spark fires on the ground, the rights group said in a written statement calling on Israel not to use it in crowded areas of Gaza.

Military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich refused to comment directly on whether Israel was using phosphorus, but said the army was "using its munitions in accordance with international law."

Israel used white phosphorus in its 34-day war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006. The U.S. military in Iraq used the incendiary during a November 2004 operation against insurgents in the city of Fallujah.

An AP photographer and a TV crew based in Gaza visited Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Sunday and recorded images of several burn patients.

One of them, Haitham Tahseen, recalled sitting outside his home with his family in the morning when something exploded above them.

"Suddenly, I saw bombs coming with white smoke," said the man, whose burned face was covered with medical cream. "It looked very red and it had white smoke. That's the first time I've seen such a thing."

His cousin, in another hospital bed, was more severely burned, with patches of skin peeling off his face and body, and had to be wrapped with thick white bandages.

The hospital's chief doctor, Youssef Abu Rish, said the burns were not from contact with fire, but he couldn't say what sort of substance caused them. He said information he collected on the Internet indicated it could have been white phosphorus.

White phosphorus is not considered a chemical weapon, and militaries are permitted under laws of warfare to use it in artillery shells, bombs and rockets to create smoke screens to hide troop movements as well as bright bursts in the air to illuminate battlefields at night.

Israel is not party to a convention regulating its use. Under customary laws of war, however, Israel would be expected to take all feasible precautions to minimize the impact of white phosphorus on civilians, Human Rights Watch said.

"What we're saying is the use of white phosphorus in densely populated areas like a refugee camp is showing that the Israelis are not taking all feasible precautions," said Marc Garlasco, a senior military analyst for the rights group. "It's just an unnecessary risk to the civilian population, not only in the potential for wounds but also for burning homes and infrastructure."

Garlasco was among researchers on a ridge about a mile from the Gaza border who observed the shelling from a 155mm artillery unit on Friday and Saturday.

Some of the burning trails of smoke caused fires on the ground that appeared to go out after a few minutes, said Garlasco, who formerly worked at the Pentagon where he was in charge of recommending high-value targets for air strikes during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Each 155mm shell contains 116 of what Garlasco described as wafers doused in phosphorus that can be spread over an area as large as a sports field, depending on the height at which it detonates. The phosphorus ignites when it comes in contact with oxygen.

Human Rights Watch has not been able to confirm whether there have been any civilian casualties from phosphorus. The group has a consultant working for it inside Gaza but he has been unable to move around due to the danger. Foreign journalists have also been barred from entering Gaza.

Garlasco said photos published Thursday in British newspaper The Times showed Israeli units handling American-manufactured white phosphorus shells with fuses on them.

[antoniof123]

Isreal is out of control and if they do not stop this is going to spill over not just in the middle east but to Europe and Asia as it may already be moving into Africa. Beware, once this moves it will move fast and with a vengence. War only boundry is the next place of attack.

[papir18zcsm]

Geraldo45,the Roman Empire really gave us many advances no more important than the cencus. Tey were great at tallying statistics as the had a great love of Taxes and Tribute. Where is this going? You see my uninformed or delushional friend, by exacting accurate Roman census the occupants/residents/owners of the land South of Beruit, East of the Jordan past Philidelphia and Aman, South thru the desert to Duba and East to Tabuk, and West across the Sinai were over 90% Hebrew in faith, and over 75% Hebrew in their tribal/family origin. This was for over two millenium before Saladin sacked Jeruselum.
Its amazing to me that so called educated people can accept 1300+years of Muslim War/violence/Slavery & Terror. Remember, There are no refugee camps. In 1946 British Palistine was about 50/50 Jew and Arab. When hostilities were iminent the Israelis offered the Arabs money to stay, the Eygptians offered more money to move out, with the promise of "why have half, move out, we will destroy them, and you will have it all".
1300 year of aggression is no problem to you but a strike to stop rocket attacks is intolerable. People that are uninformed like you are dangerous. When rockets start landing in your town I hope to see you out protesting to restrain the US''s response.

[oldtimer1942-2009]

What happened to all the gutless Lib''s? OH, I know, they heard a truck backfire and their all cowering in their basements. Do us all a favor and stay there with the rest of the rats.

[oldtimer1942-2009]

goodsamarata: May God bless you and Isreal. Allthough I believe it''s obvious that he has. Shalom

[oldtimer1942-2009]

geraldo45: Don''t pay any attention to these liberal brain washed fools. They are either "60''s HIPPIES" or their off spring. It will probably take about 3 generations before that demented drug culture Era finds it self back to reality again. Thank GOD they were a small minority. GOD bless.

[oldtimer1942-2009]

MFK6 and MrNrgmizer: You two fools live togeather? You know, birds of a feather flock togeather. The others prepairing war on a regional scale have been prepairing war on Blessed Isreal since 1948 stupid but the Mislim cowards do nothing. They remember the 6 day war when they got their ***''s kicked all the way to Suez, remember that stupid ones. And as far as you''re concerned MFK6 let me guess what the MF stands for. Yea I''m angry you cowardly liberal fools, gutless *** like you will cause the fall of this country if people like me stop keeping an eye on jerks like you two, and that will never happen.

[geraldo45]

I''m trying to recall the article where "Human Rights Watch" complained about Hamas launching rockets at Israeli civilians. Let''s see...

[mfk6]

Hey, oldtimer1942....I think anyone would know who had a mental problem by your posts. I did not say that Israel should stop fighting Hamas. I guess you think it would be alright if they just finished every human being in Gaza off and get it done with? Nam Vet, hmmm? You may want to seek some help for your anger, agression and limited speech problems.

[toolmangler-2009]

Israel is a western supported terrorist organization. The whole World knows it.
Posted by lochlan at 01:30 PM : Jan 12, 2009




That puts them in direct competition with tha Islam supported terrorists that maim and kill civillians without warning, doesn''t it??????

[impeach___w]

Yes they are using white phosphorus. No that is not what these people were burned by.
Burning White phosphorus would burn you and continue burning through you until it burned out the other side. You can not put it out. Believe it.

P.S. The nazis had a lot of influence in palestine. Who was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Muhammed Amin al-Husseini?
If you do not know who this is you cannot possibly understand the current issues in the Middle East.

[oldtimer1942-2009]

Believe me, that miserable puke NObsEver is no Cop. That brain dead moron would never pass the mental exam. He dreams of being one when he''s off in some dark corner playing with him self.

[oldtimer1942-2009]

"MFK6 IS A COMPLETE IDIOT". This is War stupid. People die and get injured in War stupid. If they stop the rockets into Isreal the war will be over stupid. Those stupid Hamas fools know that stupid. They want the carnage so stupid people like you will come to their miserable aid stupid. How does it feel to be so stupid, stupid? If hamas was shooting rockets at your home and family would you give a *** what weapon was used to stop them? How stupid can you be? uggghh, what a stupid question.

[mfk6]

If Hamas was lobbing phosphorus bombs into Israel, we could hear the screaming unaided all way in Philadelphia. I don''t care who you are - I don''t care who they are - NO Use of This type of weapon in a highly populated area of civilians can be sanctioned!!! Israel seems to have taken their cue for honorless behavior from the ruthless, lawless behavior promoted by the Bush/Cheney administration. Is this their true legacy to the world at large?

As a nurse I know only too well the damage that these types of burns can do to the human body. Who said it was o.k. for the Israelis to burn woman and children just to get at the Hamas? Israel take your well trained hit squads into Gaza and execute them....but for God''s sake, let the civilians live!!!!!!

[sfcusarmy1]

Burn them, Incinerate them all!

[oldtimer1942-2009]

NObsEver: You are one sick moron. You must be a Muslim. Why don''t you take your wife and family down to a New York pier, get on a freighter and head back to what ever Arab slum you came from in the middle East, and I hope the Statue of Liberty kicks all your ***''s on the way out!! Is it not a wonderful thing to watch as little Isreal kicks the *** of any moranic Muslim Nation that messes with her. You Arabs and your sympathisers should be so embarassed. Thats why all those gutless terrorists wear masks, their ashamed and don''t want to be exposed as the cowards they are. A miserable coward like you fool!!

[oldtimer1942-2009]

nincomp: Hey stupid, spell out your whole name. NINCOMPOOP. You forgot the last three letters!!

[notblue]

nobsever, already had to change your login name! Wonder why? Hateful bigots like yourself are just another classic example of why the Nazi fascist ideology is so wrong on every level. The bright side is that when trolls like you speak, people listen and are so offended by your rhetoric that your message is never given any serious consideration. Keep up the good work assshole! I wonder of the libs that frequent these posts know their own message and words while not as extreme, supports freaks like you? Probably not!

[lochlan-2009]

Israel is a western supported terrorist organization. The whole World knows it.

[deathofusa]

I was a "raghead" before, and now I''''m a Nazi? Make up your mind, stupid.
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Posted by NObsEver at 12:59 PM : Jan 12, 2009

Bottom line... you are jealous of the jews. Lol. Must be sad to be you.

[deathofusa]

Hitler was an ambitious, wise and enlightened man. Even Pope Pius Xll went over to Berlin during the war to commend Hitler on the fine job he was doing in providing rehabilitation camps for the kikes. But it seems even highly motivated, intelligent people like Hitler have their flaws. He had the experience of Stalin''''s Pogroms to draw upon, yet he was off in his planning. He never realised the limited amount of time he had to complete his task; his schedule was way off.
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Posted by NObsEver at 12:52 PM : Jan 12, 2009


Keep posting, you''re only exposing yourself for the Nazi that you truly are. Lol.