What is white phosphorus and why does Israel use it in its attacks in Lebanon

Israel fired white phosphorus munitions across the border to the south Lebanon during the last six months.

This toxic gas is harmful to the eyes and lungs and can cause serious burns, which is why it is strictly regulated by international laws.

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The Israeli army guarantees that the use of this controversial weapon against armed militants is legal, both in Link as in Lebanon. However, human rights groups maintain that it should be investigated as a War crime.

For its part, the United States said it will investigate Israel’s use of white phosphorus in both regions.

By using this ammunition so close to civilians, are Israeli forces breaking the law or enforcing their rights during war?

a white fog

“It travels like a white mist. But when he falls to the ground, he turns to dust.”

Ali Ahmed Abu Samra, a 48-year-old farmer from southern Lebanon, says he was engulfed in a dense cloud of white smoke on October 19, 2023.

“They say it smells like garlic, but it’s much worse than that. The smell was unbearable, worse than sewage.”

Ali is describing a white phosphorus attack.

Ali Ahmed Abu Samra says he was engulfed in a thick cloud of white smoke during an attack.

Ammunition of this component, which burns at temperatures of up to 815 °C, is highly flammable and extremely toxic.

“Tears started to come out of our eyes,” says Ali, from the village of Dhayra. “If it weren’t for covering our mouth and nose with a damp cloth, we might not be alive today.”

Since the beginning of war in Gazaviolence has increased along the border between Israel and Lebanon, causing casualties on both sides and the displacement of thousands of people.

The BBC independently verified the repeated use of white phosphorus munitions by Israeli forces in four cities between October 2023 and March 2024.

Closely aligned with Will and ally of Hamas, Hezbollah It is one of the most heavily armed non-state military forces in the world.

In almost daily clashes, rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah fighters are repelled with airstrikes and heavy artillery, including white phosphorus, by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

When white phosphorus is released from its shell, it reacts with oxygen to create a thick smoke screen. This provides almost instantaneous cover to troops on the ground, obscuring the enemy’s line of sight. Is military tactics very effective and legal under certain conditions.

However, under international law, it is the responsibility of all parties to protect civilians during armed conflicts.

Hezbollah fighters are known to move in small units of two to four people. They take advantage of the forest to cover themselves and often play missiles and rockets across the border against the Israeli army on the other side. For Israeli forces, engulfing them in smoke is a way of interfering with Hezbollah’s ability to reach its targets.

On the days when Ali’s village was attacked, between October 10 and 19, he guarantees that there were no armed groups in the area.

“If Hezbollah had been there, people would have told them to leave because no one wanted to die,” says Ali. “Hezbollah did not exist“.

The BBC was unable to independently verify the presence or absence of armed groups in Dhayra during the days surrounding the attacks.

The BBC independently verified the attacks in Marjayoun on March 4, 2024. (REUTERS).

The evacuation

First to arrive Dhayra was volunteer lifeguard Khaled Qraitem.

“We started to evacuate people who lost consciousness,” says Qraitem. But he claims that while trying to reach people, the rescue team was attacked.

“They fired three projectiles at uswhether to prevent us from rescuing people or to create an atmosphere of fear.

Qraitem remembers taking at least nine people to the Italian hospital in the city of Tyre, including his own father, Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, 65, was hospitalized for three days due to serious breathing difficulties. His doctor, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, says he has treated many patients exposed to white phosphorus.

“Patients arrive with signs of severe suffocation, profuse sweating, chronic vomiting, and irregular heartbeat“Explains Mustafa. “They smell like garlic. The blood results confirmed exposure to white phosphorus.”

The BBC independently verified a white phosphorus attack in the village of Aita al-Shaab on October 15, 2023. (AP).

When we went to see Ibrahim three months later, his eyes were still red. The skin on his arms and feet was peeling and covered in rashes. He claims doctors told him it was all due to white phosphorus.

“We have been at war since the 1970s,” says Ibrahim. “But nothing like this. Explosions fall very close to our homes”.

Ibrahim says a projectile fell six meters from his car as he tried to flee. There was IDF surveillance drones Above your head.

“They could see us,” says Ibrahim. “They were shooting carelessly.”

Amnesty International states that the attack on Dhayra “must be investigated as a War crime because it was an indiscriminate attack that injured at least nine civilians and damaged civilian property and was therefore illegal.”

In response to witnesses who stated that white phosphorus has been used regardless of consequences in populated areas, the IDF told the BBC:

“IDF guidelines require that smoke projectiles containing white phosphorus in densely populated areas, subject to certain exceptions. “These are operational guidelines that are confidential and cannot be disclosed.”

White Phosphorus Evidence

Immediately after the attack on Ali’s village, reports appeared on the internet. At first, the Israeli army denied using white phosphorus ammunition. But then he did a 180 degree turn and admitted to having used it “within international law”.

By checking the available evidence, the BBC was able to independently verify the use of white phosphorus in Dhayra and three other villages along the border over the past six months.

The BBC verified a white phosphorus attack on November 22, 2023 in Kfar Kila, a town inhabited by 14,000 people. (AP).

At Kfar Kila, the BBC obtained and chemically tested a fragment of a projectile which fell between two civilian houses. The analysis was carried out by a renowned chemistry professor. For security reasons, he asked to remain anonymous.

The professor points out the markings that indicate the projectile was manufactured in the United States.

Wearing a gas mask and full personal protective equipment, the professor examined several dark, sticky clumps on the inner edge of the metal fragment.

“This is part of a 155 mm howitzer. The brand M825A1 indicates that it is a white phosphorus ammunition. “It’s American-made,” he details.

The expert points a lighter at the sticky clumps and they immediately catch fire. “Imagine trying to remove this material from your clothing as it burns and sticks to your skin.”

It ensures that even after 30 days, traces of white phosphorus can still ignite.

Aid worker Khaled Qraitem accuses Israel of deliberately using white phosphorus to expel people from border areas.

“We had a beautiful rural life,” he says. “They started bombing the forest areas with phosphorus with the aim of burning the olive trees and avocado orchards.”

“The IDF completely rejects any claim that smoke screen howitzers to expel Lebanese civilians from the border,” the Israeli military said.

Did Israel break the law?

White phosphorus is not defined as chemical weapon and even the term “incendiary weapon” is controversial.

According to United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weaponsthere are restrictions on weapons designed primarily to start fires or burn people.

However, most states, including Israel, agree that if white phosphorus is used primarily for create smoke screens and not for fires (even if they occur incidentally), the incendiary weapons law no longer applies.

However, Human Rights Watch (HRW) disagrees. The organization warns that there are many “loopholes” in the convention.

“The convention contains gaps, particularly with regard to its definition of incendiary weapons,” says HRW researcher Ramzi Kaiss. “But according to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), tAll parties to the conflict must take feasible precautions to prevent harm to civilians, especially when white phosphorus munitions are used.”.

In determining whether Israel has violated IHL, Professor Bill Boothby, an independent lawyer and military expert, says one of the problems is the “clash of evidence”.

“The Israelis say their purpose was to create a smokescreen,” explains Boothby. “Villagers say it made no sense to create a smoke screen because there were no militants. Was this really the reason white phosphorus was used? Knowing the answer would imply knowing what was going on in the minds of those who were deciding on the attack.”

O “proportionality”, says Boothby, is also key. The damage caused must not be excessive relative to the expected military benefits.

“We are talking about the need to establish that the expected civilian injuries and damage to civilian property were excessive relative to the concrete and direct military advantage they anticipated obtaining before the attack.”

All of this, the professor insists, depends on knowing what those who decided to attack had in mind.

When asked what their objective was in Dhayra, the IDF told the BBC: “These are operational guidelines that are confidential and cannot be disclosed.”

Source: Elcomercio