Red Cross: No evidence Israel is using white phosphorus illegally
By Michael B. Farrell | Middle East Editor 01.14.09
The International Committee of the Red Cross says white phosphorus is being used in Gaza. No question.
But they have no evidence that Israel is using it illegally.
“In some of the strikes in Gaza it’s pretty clear that phosphorus was used,” Peter Herby, head of the Red Cross mines-arms unit, told the Associated Press Tuesday. “But it’s not very unusual to use phosphorus to create smoke or illuminate a target. We have no evidence to suggest it’s being used in any other way.”
Monitor staff writer Robert Marquand reported yesterday that human rights groups have witnessed white phosphorus munitions exploding over populated area of Gaza. While using the agent is not banned by international laws when it’s used as a smoke screen. But it is outlawed for use on people – civilians or soldiers. The shells contain filaments that ignite “upon contact with the atmosphere, drift to earth, and burn intensely for at least 10 to 12 minutes,” Marquand wrote. It’s extremely harmful when it comes into contact with human skin.
Israel has denied using white phosphorus altogether and says that it is adhering to international norms of warfare in the offensive against the Islamist militants.
The Red Cross urged Israel to use “extreme caution” when firing white phosphorus munitions, according to AP.
The United States came under fire from human rights groups for its usage of white phosphorus in its November 2004 assault on Fallujah, Iraq.
The BBC reported that American military officials admitted to using the agent to flush enemy combatants from their positions inside the city. “The combined effects of the fire and smoke - and in some case the terror brought about by the explosion on the ground - will drive them out of the holes so that you can kill them with high explosives.”
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2. M.S.Khoory | 01.14.09
Thanks be to God for this report. How reassuring it is to learn of Israel restraint. And “The Red Cross urged Israel to use “extreme caution” when firing white phosphorus munitions” is even more salutory!…What would we do without the Red Cross, and your objectivity in reporting, I don’t know!.
In the least, you all should be embarrassed. You and the RC could, atone, if you choose to, by simply telling your Christian world the bases of this latest tragedy. Israel wants to eliminate Hamas on the latter’s own land, and started by suffocating the territory with its tightening siege, knowing full well what Hamas response will instigate the planned action. Anything else is just background noise by kowtowing to zionist influence, and yours alas, is no different.
3. Craig R | 01.14.09
The Red Cross is wrong on many points.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/illuminating9_11/3184188858/
4. Bernard K. Rosenschmidt | 01.18.09
Photos of white phosphorous falling on civilian centers in Gaza City have since surfaced. This is not kosher at all.
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1. Arthur | 01.14.09
It is interesting that Hamas, with all its ‘wings’ had arranged to send missiles and mortar rounds into southern Israel towns for months frightening women and children into ’safe room’ bunkers and the world was deaf and dumb. Not a peep was heard in the halls of ‘friendly’ democratic and king ruled countries until the government of Irael said “enough” and exercised its right to defend its citizens to put an end to the Hamas’ hostile activity which began following Israel’s forced withdrawal of all of its citizens from Gaza. The empty cries of “proportionality” aimed at inciting the world against Israel fail to impress folks who lived, and still do, under incoming random missiles, particularly when their government removed all of its people from their homes and hothouses which the folks who elected Hamas as their government, instead of taking advantage of that which was left by Israel, promptly destroyed it all. Now we hear the cries of ‘victim’ from these poor Palestinians who danced in the streets when the World Trade Center towers came down in New York City, victims of Moslem terrorists. Cries which are echoed by their brother Moslem supporters in this world today. Where is the proportionality? Where is the ‘fairness’ and ‘objectivity” doctrine in the liberal media today? This is the ultimate example of how the minds of ‘right thinking’ folks go askew when the subject involves Jewish folks. Oh yes, stop the fighting, open all the Gaza crossings into Israel and Egypt. Lets leave Hamas intact so they can rearm, rebuild their tunnels and renew their avowed aim to eliminate Israel.