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Headlines : Human RightsIsrael admits using phosphorus bombs in Lebanon
Surprise? Hardly, phosphorus munitions have been used without regard since WWI. The Third Protocol of the Geneva Convention on Conventional Weapons restricts the use of such incendiaries. However, the U.S. and Israel are not signatories of this treaty. Although, the U.S. itself classified WP as a chemical weapon… when they thought Saddam’s forces used them against Kurdish rebels.
[Posted By RZSTR]Republished from Haaretz
Israel has acknowledged for the first time that it attacked Hezbollah targets during the second Lebanon war with phosphorus shells. White phosphorus causes very painful and often lethal chemical burns to those hit by it, and until recently Israel maintained that it only uses such bombs to mark targets or territory.
The announcement that the Israel Defense Forces had used phosphorus bombs in the war in Lebanon was made by Minister Jacob Edery, in charge of government-Knesset relations. He had been queried on the matter by MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz-Yahad).
“The IDF holds phosphorus munitions in different forms,” Edery said. “The IDF made use of phosphorous shells during the war against Hezbollah in attacks against military targets in open ground.”
Edery also pointed out that international law does not forbid the use of phosphorus and that “the IDF used this type of munitions according to the rules of international law.”
Edery did not specify where and against what types of targets phosphorus munitions were used. During the war several foreign media outlets reported that Lebanese civilians carried injuries characteristic of attacks with phosphorus, a substance that burns when it comes to contact with air.
Posted by RZSTR
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Human sacrifice used to be law … did it make it right ?
Read what other GNN’s are saying about this here: Israel admits phosphorous bombing
It such a “convenient” weapon those with it dont want to give it up. I found reference to it back in the 1850’s The irony being that its properly defined as chemical weapon, even by those who use it, when they are referring to the opposition but not when its used against the opposition.