Palestine Tet – 51 – Washington chides Israel for using white phospherus in S. Lebanon (which it probably got from U.S. weapons stores)

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(Washington might be “concerned” but history suggests it will do nothing about this. RJP)

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America directs a “rare criticism” of Israel over the use of white phosphorus in bombing, expresses its concern and demands information, and the occupation army admits to possessing internationally prohibited materials and tries to justify

Rai al Youm – December 11, 2023 (original in Arabic translated with Google Translate – Arabic to English)

Washington – (AFP) – Anatolia – The White House expressed concern on Monday about reports that Israel used white phosphorus supplied by the United States in attacks on Lebanon, indicating that it is seeking more details regarding this information.

Lebanon accused Israel of using incendiary weapons repeatedly in October, while the Washington Post reported on Monday that an analysis of fragments of Israeli attack shells showed that the bullets were American-made.

“We have seen the reports, and we are certainly concerned about this,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “We will ask questions to try to find out more.”

The use of white phosphorus as a chemical weapon is prohibited under international law, but it is permitted to illuminate battlefields and can also be used as a smokescreen.

“Any time we supply material like white phosphorus to another military, we do so with the expectation that it will be used in keeping with those legitimate purposes and in keeping with the law of armed conflict,” Kirby said.

The Washington Post reported that nine civilians were injured in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon that apparently used white phosphorus that Israel obtained from the United States.

She added that a journalist working for her found the remains of three artillery shells bearing serial numbers showing that they were manufactured in the United States in 1989 and 1992.

On October 31, Lebanon accused Israel of using white phosphorus in “repeated” attacks, amid tensions that followed the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The United States is strongly supportive of Israel, but it is trying to prevent the conflict from spreading in the region, especially to Lebanon, the stronghold of Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.

“In this context, we are concerned about these reports” of the use of white phosphorus, Kirby said.

For his part, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the United States is “seeking additional information.”

Miller added, “Any time we see white phosphorus being used in a way that harms civilians, of course this concerns us.”

In turn, the Israeli army admitted, on Monday evening, that it possesses shells containing white phosphorus.

The official Israeli Army Radio said: “We have smoke shells containing white phosphorus, intended for camouflage, and not for the purpose of attacking or starting fires.”

The army added: “Like many Western armies, the Israeli army also possesses smoke shells containing white phosphorus, which is legal according to international law.”

He pointed out that “these shells are designated in the Israeli army for the purpose of camouflage, not for the purpose of attacking or starting a fire, and they are not legally defined as incendiary weapons.”

Phosphorus bombs are an internationally prohibited weapon under the Geneva Convention of 1980, which stipulated the prohibition of the use of white phosphorus as an incendiary weapon against humans and the environment.

The Israeli army’s acknowledgment comes in conjunction with a devastating war waged by the Israeli army on Gaza since last October 7, which, as of Monday evening, left 18,205 martyrs, 49,645 wounded, most of them children and women, massive destruction of infrastructure, and an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.” According to official Palestinian and UN sources.