Human Rights Watch says Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza, Lebanon
Human Rights Watch says Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza, Lebanon
Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the use of such weapons puts civilians at risk of serious and long-term injury.
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Wait, I thought chemical warfare was a war crime or something.
Look at Russia, it don’t matter because everything is fucked to shit right now in regards to international law
Also look at the US: who gave Ukraine white phosphorus to use against the Russians. I'm not saying I support Russia what so ever but there are international laws that protect human rights and the west clearly thinks it doesn't apply to them
I'm trying to find something about this, but all I can find is articles saying Russia used white phosphorus. Where did you see this?
Maybe it was cluster bombs which are also against international law, but I swear I heard that today either on the news or read it somewhere. I'll keep looking [https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-provide-cluster-munitions-ukraine-part-new-military-100836526]
Russia uses cluster bombs too though? Cluster bombs are bad because unexploded munitions are a lot like mines. The fighting is happening in Ukraine, not in Russia, and Ukraine is already littered with mines and unexploded munitions because of Russia's use of both from the start of the war.
On top of that Israel's President Herzog basically admitting to collective punishment but everyone is treating it like just another Saturday in Suburbia.
The thing about laws is...
Well, someone has to enforce them.
So when the people breaking the law are also the people primarily tasked with enforcing it...
White phosphorus munitions can legally be used on battlefields to make smoke screens, generate illumination, mark targets or burn bunkers and buildings. Because it has legal uses, white phosphorus is not banned as a chemical weapon under international conventions, but it can cause serious burns and start fires.
You just can't use it to hit people (I don't think you're allowed set buildings on fire to kill people either)
And Israel is on thin ice because they used white phosphorous before in '09 (not claiming they used it illegally because I can't find a source that will say one way or the other)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorus_munitions#International_law
Article 1 of Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons defines an incendiary weapon as "any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof, produced by a chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the target". Article 2 of the same protocol prohibits the deliberate use of incendiary weapons against civilian targets (already forbidden by the Geneva Conventions)
Depends on what they used it for. White phosphorus is the best known substance for creating smokescreens. It also happens to brutally mutilate people who are directly hit with the stuff.