Human Rights Watch: Israel Committed War Crimes in Gaza!!!

25. Mar, 2009 Print This Article! 0 Comments

Comment: The evidence in this report by Human Rights Watch is just one more confirmation that Israel committed War Crimes. It leaves without a doubt Israel was trying to kill as many civilians as possible. The use of Phosphorus Bombs on heavily populated civilian neighborhoods in Gaza even when Israeli troops were not in the Area is a crime against humanity and Israel must be held accountable for these crimes. Administrader

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by Saed Bannoura – IMEMC News

Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report of Wednesday stating that Israel war against the Gaza Strip was indiscriminate and constitutes a war crime especially since the Israeli Army used white phosphorous against civilians and civilian property

HRW researchers went to Gaza immediately after Israel halted it was and collecting evidences and testimonies that implicate Israel of committing war crimes.

The 71-page report was names “Rain of Fire: Israel’s Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza”.

The HRW researchers found spent shells, canister liners, and dozens of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets, apartment roofs, residential courtyards, and at a United Nations school. The report also presents ballistics evidence, photographs, and satellite imagery, as well as documents from the Israeli military and government, the HRW reported.,

”In Gaza, the Israeli military didn’t just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops,” said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and co-author of the report. “It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas, even when its troops weren’t in the area and safer smoke shells were available. As a result, civilians needlessly suffered and died.” HRW added.

In its report the HRW stated that the pattern and usage of white phosphorus could not have been done without an approval from senior Israeli military commanders.

It added that such usage caused civilians deaths and that senior military commanders must be held accountable.

The HRW submitted to the Israeli army a detailed list of questions on February 1. The questions were on the usage of white phosphorous in Gaza, but the army did not respond and only said that an inquiry is being conducted by the southern command of the Israeli army.

Furthermore the HRW reported that the Israeli army frequently fired 155mm artillery shells that carried air-burst white phosphorus.

“White phosphorus ignites and burns on contact with oxygen, and continues burning at up to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (816 degrees Celsius) until nothing is left or the oxygen supply is cut. When white phosphorus comes into contact with skin it creates intense and persistent burns”, HRW reported.

The usage of white phosphorus in open areas does not violate the international law; but the Israeli army fired the white phosphorus shells over populated neighborhoods in Gaza. The shells were fired over heavily populated neighborhoods killing and wounding dozens of civilians.

The shells damaged civilian structures, including a home, a school, a market, a hospital and a humanitarian warehouse.

Initially the Israeli army denied using white phosphorus munitions, but facing mounting evidence Israel claimed that its army used white phosphorus munitions but in compliance with the international law. Later on, Israel said it is investigating improper use of the munitions.

The Gaza Strip is the most densely populated area on earth with nearly 1.5 million Palestinians living in an area of 360 kilometers.

The HRW stated that the army knew that using white phosphorus will threaten civilian lives, and added that the army could have used an alternate to white phosphorus to create smokescreens for its forces, especially since there is an Israeli company that manufactures a non-lethal alternative.

A medical report prepared during the recent hostilities by the Israeli ministry of health said that white phosphorus “can cause serious injury and death when it comes into contact with the skin, is inhaled or is swallowed.” Burns on less than 10 percent of the body can be fatal because of damage to the liver, kidneys, and heart, the ministry report says. Infection is common and the body’s absorption of the chemical can cause serious damage to internal organs, as well as death, HRW stated.

The group also said that the white phosphorus used by Israel against the Gaza Strip was manufactured in the United States in 1989. The manufacturer was Thiokol Aerospace, which was running the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant at the time.

“ On January 4, Reuters photographed IDF artillery units handling projectiles whose markings indicate that they were produced in the United States at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in September 1991”, HRW stated.

Israel tried to explain the high number of civilian casualties by claiming that Hamas fighters used Palestinian civilians as human shields, but evidences and testimonies proved that claims to be false.

The HRW added that the Israeli army had “deliberately or recklessly used white phosphorus munitions in violation of the laws of war”.

It explained that the there was a pattern in using white phosphorus munitions as the army repeatedly used the shells until the last days of the offensive. The second issue is that the army was well aware of the effects of white phosphorus munitions, and the third issue is that the Israeli army failed to use available alternatives for smokescreens.

Source: IMEMC NEWS