Undercurrent

Human Rights Watch released a report on Thursday accusing Israel of using white phosphorous munitions “deliberately or recklessly” and “over densely populated areas” during its three-week siege on Gaza. The organization is calling for an international investigation into the Israel Defense Force’s use of the weapon, suggesting that an internal investigation would be neither thorough nor impartial.

The use of white phosphorus is sanctioned under international conventions, but only in open areas and only to act as a smoke screen. HRW alleges that the IDF fired the U.S. supplied shells into residential areas, city streets, a hospital and a U.N. school.

Also known as “Willy Pete,” white phosphorus has been used regularly by the U.S. and its allies since World War II. The incendiary device ignites when it comes in contact with oxygen and can reach temperatures of over 800 degrees centigrade. Once it comes in contact with an object, it will continue to burn until whatever is fueling it is exhausted. When it comes in contact with human flesh, it burns it down to the bone.

Sabah Abu Halima lost her husband and four of her children when her home was hit by a white phosphorus shell during the Israeli offensive. Though she survived the attack, her life will never be the same. She suffered burns over her face, arms, back and legs from contact with the chemical.

HRW’s report comes a few days after Richard Falk, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said Israel should be held accountable for a “crime against humanity” for the way it carried out the Gaza offensive. He accuses Israel of “coercivly confining the Gazan civilian population to the combat zone during the Israeli military operations.” He also cited the overall ratio of deaths, 1,434 Palestinians to 13 Israelis, as evidence of the one-sided nature of the conflict.

Both the U.S. and Israel dismissed Falk’s comments, accusing him of  bias and saying his report is part of a pattern of demonizing Israel by the U.N.