Israel’s use of white phosphorus in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon puts civilians at risk of serious and long-term injuries, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing a question and answer document on white phosphorus.
Human Rights Watch reviewed the video and verified that it was taken in Gaza City’s port and in locations near the Israel-Lebanon border, and identified that the munitions used in the strikes were airburst 155mm white phosphorus artillery projectiles.
The use of white phosphorus in populated areas poses grave risks to civilians, the NGO says. Upon contact, white phosphorus can burn people, thermally and chemically, down to the bone as it is highly soluble in fat and therefore in human flesh. White phosphorus fragments can exacerbate wounds even after treatment and can enter the bloodstream and cause multiple organ failure. Already dressed wounds can reignite when dressings are removed and the wounds are re-exposed to oxygen. Even relatively minor burns are often fatal. For survivors, extensive scarring tightens muscle tissue and creates physical disabilities. The trauma of the attack, the painful treatment that follows, and appearance-changing scars lead to psychological harm and social exclusion.
They using this in populated areas according to HRW. This is not a conspiracy theory. They may not intentionally target civilians, but civilians will almost inevitably be harmed when using this shit in populated areas.
That didn't happen.
And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
And if it was, that's not a big deal.
And if it is, that's not my fault.
And if it was, I didn't mean it.
And if I did, you deserved it.
I don't know anything about these laws (or any laws, I'm not a legal person). My understanding is that we don't need to sign a document agreeing to not harm innocent civilians, let alone in a civilized world in the 21st century. This should be a matter of course. When reading the news of late and some comments here it seems that I'm mistaken, though.
What is Israel supposed to do? Let themselves be attacked repeatedly without ever doing anything about it because Hamas uses "civilians" as meat shields? (the civilians in Palestinian are radicalized to a point where they will basically never make peace, basically a WW2 Japan situation)
No, I know some of them (they live in Europe). One is half Palestinian and half Israeli. He lost family members on both side in his life time, he says, and all he wants is peace.