Human Rights Watch: Israel Unlawfully Used White Phosphorous as Weapon Against Civilians

Well, after all Israeli military rabbis did allegedly tell the troops that in a Holy War, it's immoral to show mercy to the enemy (More on that here).

Human Rights Watch reports:

The 71-page report, "Rain of Fire: Israel's Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza," provides witness accounts of the devastating effects that white phosphorus munitions had on civilians and civilian property in Gaza. Human Rights Watch researchers in Gaza immediately after hostilities ended 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....

Militaries use white phosphorus primarily to obscure their operations on the ground by creating thick smoke. It can also be used as an incendiary weapon.

"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."...

The report documents a pattern or policy of white phosphorus use that Human Rights Watch says must have required the approval of senior military officers.

"For the needless civilian deaths caused by white phosphorus, senior commanders should be held to account," Abrahams said. (Huffington Post)

Last Wednesday, the BBC reported:

There has been concern that Israel has been using controversial white phosphorus shells during its offensive in Gaza. Doctors in Gaza have reported treating dozens of patients with unusually deadly burns. White phosphorus can have serious, longterm effects on health....

If particles of white phosphorus land on the body, they burn through clothing and stick to the skin, scorching through layer after layer of tissue until their supply of oxygen is cut off.

Even when it is not burning, the chemical effects of phosphorus can be absorbed deeper into the body causing multiple organ failure.

Different patients react in different ways - some will die from a small burn others will survive.

Doctors in Gaza have said patients with 15% burns have surprised them by dying.

The brutality of the engagement didn't make as many headlines as you'd think here in the US.  See -- and hear -- BBC reports from the time when it was all going on here.

RECENT RELATED:

Spot the Connection: Dead Baby Jokes, The Rules of Engagement in Gaza, & The Immorality of Showing Mercy to the Enemy During a Holy War (A News Round-Up)

OTHER RECENT BUCK NAKED POLITICS POSTINGS

Idiot Wind: The Republicans Show Off Their Charts

Obama Warns of Pending Attacks by al Qaeda from Pakistan Safe Haven, Explains Strategy
for Afghanistan and Pakistan (News & Commentary Round-Up)

Republicans Have a Better 'Plan': Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, a Budget with Imaginary Numbers, & Some Boffo Charts!

Miami Doctors & Assistants Plead Guilty to $10 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Cry Me A River: AIG VP's Resignation Letter (round-up Included )

"Hey Paul Krugman" (A Song)

News Round-Up: Congressional "Conservadems" Perform Radical Surgery to Obama's Proposed Budget, Including Health Care Expansion?

Geithner's Proposal: Does Treasury Want a Never-Ending TARP, and Where's the Accountability?

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Mn) Wants Her Constituents "Armed and Dangerous" Over Cap-and-Trade

Econ4U: Beware of So-Called "Free" Credit Reports