Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global human rights group has accused of Israel of using white phosphorus incendiary shells on residential buildings in at least five towns and villages in southern Lebanon, possibly harming civilians and violating international law, in a report published Wednesday.
HRW said in its report that there was no evidence of burn injuries due to white phosphorus in Lebanon, but that researchers had “heard accounts indicating possible respiratory damage.”
Human rights advocates say it’s a crime under international law to fire the controversial munitions into populated areas.
The white-hot chemical substance can set buildings on fire and burn human flesh down to the bone. Survivors are at risk of infections and organ or respiratory failure, even if their burns are small.
The Israeli military told The Associated Press that it upholds international law regarding munitions and the use of white phosphorus, using the chemical only as a smokescreen, not to target civilians.
“IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) procedures require that such shells are not used in densely populated areas, subject to certain exceptions,” the statement added.
David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson reiterated that statement during a news briefing Wednesday in Tel Aviv, where he also answered numerous questions from reporters on attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon and a proposed Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
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17 сен 2024
