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Israel Finally Admits Using White Phosphorous in Attacks on Gaza
After weeks of denying that it used white phosphorus in the heavily populated Gaza Strip, Israel finally admitted yesterday that the weapon was deployed in its offensive.
The incident being investigated is believed to be the firing of white phosphorous shells at a UN school in Beit Lahiya on January 17. (Mohammed Abed/AFP)
The army's use of white phosphorus - which makes a distinctive shellburst of
dozens of smoke trails - was reported first by The Times on
January 5, when it was strenuously denied by the army. Now, in the face of
mounting evidence and international outcry, Israel has been forced to
backtrack on that initial denial. "Yes, phosphorus was used but not in any
illegal manner," Yigal Palmor, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told The
Times. "Some practices could be illegal but we are going into that. The
IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is holding an investigation concerning one
specific incident."
The incident in question is thought to be the firing of phosphorus shells at a UN school in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on January 17. The weapon is legal if used as a smokescreen in battle but it is banned from deployment in civilian areas. Pictures of the attack show Palestinian medics fleeing as blobs of burning phosphorus rain down on the compound.
A senior army official also admitted that shells containing phosphorus had been used in Gaza but said that they were used to provide a smokescreen.
The Ministry of Defence gave lawyers the task before the attack of investigating the legal consequences of deploying white phosphorus - commonly stocked in Nato arsenals and used by US and British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan - inside the Gaza Strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, and one of the most densely populated places in the world.
"From what I know, at least one month before it was used a legal team had been consulted on the implications," an Israeli defence official said. He added that Israel was surprised about the public outcry. "Everyone knew we were using it, and everyone else uses it. We didn't think it would get this much attention," he said.
Because Israel is not a signatory to the treaty that created the International Court of Justice in The Hague, it cannot be tried there. Any country that is a signatory to the Geneva Convention, however, can try to prosecute individuals who took part in the Gaza operation as culpable of war crimes.
Despite a denial when The Times first reported the use of white phosphorus, an army spokeswoman said yesterday that the military had never tried to cover up its deployment. "There was never any denial from the beginning," she said.
CHANGING TUNE
January 5 The Times reports that telltale smoke has appeared from areas of shelling. Israel denies using phosphorus
January 8 The Times reports photographic evidence showing stockpiles of white phosphorus (WP) shells. Israel Defence Forces spokesman says: "This is what we call a quiet shell - it has no explosives and no white phosphorus"
January 12 The Times reports that more than 50 phosphorus burns victims are taken into Nasser Hospital. An Israeli military spokesman "categorically" denies the use of white phosphorus
January 15 Remnants of white phosphorus shells are found in western Gaza. The IDF refuses to comment on specific weaponry but insists ammunition is "within the scope of international law"
January 16 The United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters are hit with phosphorus munitions. The Israeli military continues to deny its use
January 21 Avital Leibovich, Israel's military spokeswoman, admits white phosphorus munitions were employed in a manner "according to international law"
January 23 Israel says it is launching an investigation into white phosphorus munitions, which hit a UN school on January 17. "Some practices could be illegal but we are going into that. The IDF is holding an investigation concerning one specific unit and one incident"
Source: Times database
82 Comments so far
Show All"Some practices COULD BE illegal." "The IDF is holding an investigation concerning ONE SPECIFIC incident."
Hardly an outright admission.
Why should we expect them to admit to war crimes??
What's wrong with using the very clear EVIDENCE??
("Wasn't us, must have been then Eyrannians" Livni, sometime soon)
Why? Their lying is clear and the purpose of it by this one lie, they have manipulated the whole press coverage.
The White phosphorus is a cover (Political smokescreen) for the illegal bombing of civilians and collective punishment... they know that the press would focus on the WP (it is seen on camera from great distances) and now they can debate if they used it legally or not and everything else, all the provable war crimes are forgotten in the heat of this debate. Any complication the press jumps on is a distraction from the other war crimes and as this goes on they will soon even admit (lie again) WP use was an "honest mistake" since this is now what we are debating and playing into the hands of the invaders.
Also, there is no irony here?
Bombing and burning fellow human beings, mostly civilians, as if there is no God?
Or does God take pleasure in this wanton destruction?
Well wc652,
If you read the Old Testament pretty closely, you will find many instances where Yahweh tells the Israelites to utterly destroy a people that has offended Him. To destroy their villages, their livestock, gardens and trees, to kill everyone down to the last child. In one instance, the Israelites kept a few of the choice cattle to sacrifice to Yahweh and He punished the Israelites severely for breaking his commandment!
Most peoples' gods have evolved with time, but perhaps the Israelis still worship their unchanging, vengeful, cruel and unforgiving god of old, Yahweh, god of war and weather.
Yahweh is a sociopath god. He tells his follower to kill his own son then at the last minute says "whoops..just kidding!" He demands that he always be first, he demands tribute and loyalty no matter how badly he shits on you...this is not a deity deserving of followers. The more people cast off the shackles of the Abrahamic religions the more likely we are to progress into a healthier future.
Paul Siemering
right on minitrue. how anyone could even tolerate that god, much less worship him, or even have a beer with him, is beyond me. you have his rules of engagement exactly right.
however this is also the diety of Islam and Christianity, so it's not
just an Israeli thing
We all KNEW they used white phosphorus. They now admit they LIED about it when they claimed they did not.
Now they are claiming to have used it as a smokescreen. BOGUS. They were using Phosphrous by their own admittance BEFORE ground troops entered Gaza.
Why would they need a smokescreen?
They were using it in areas of the strip that Israeli troops never entered. Again no tactical reason for a smokescreen. One does not use a smokescreen willy nilly. One uses a smokescreen as one advances on a dug in position.
So when they used it on the UN compound (Only one of may places it used) are they claiming troops were advancing on that compound in order to attack its occupants, thus requiring a smokescreen to shield themselves?
When they used it on the UN compound they said they were returning fire, which means they were using it as an offensive weapon not as a screen.
GwNorth wrote:
So when they used it on the UN compound...are they claiming troops were advancing on that compound in order to attack its occupants...?
COMMENT:
Excellent observation, GwNorth. I overlooked this - now, thanks to you, it's obvious - perhaps many others overlooked it as well. This is the sort of thing that makes comments worth reading.
I forget who said this (Shakespeare?), but it seems highly applicable here, as well as in many US instances:
"Oh, what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive!"
rosie2731
so these lying bastards continue their lies while confessing their lies
odd - now it is time to put a few more israelis into the gas chambers - this time for war crimes
so ironic to see the jews, victimized as they were by the nazis, become nazis themselves
time to start the prosecution
we need to save the palestinians from these heartless murderers
60 years of occupation is quite enough
and let's shut down the holocausts memorials
the israelis have milked that cow for the last time
and the slogan needs to be amended to read: NEVER AGAIN, unless we do it
which is the american slogan
how ironic is that
cheers, b
There is an old saying, 'you become what you hate' which applies directly to the State of Israel.
If Israel obtained white phosphorous from the U.S. as part of its annual $3 billion in U.S. aid, it has violated U.S. law by using it, especially in civilian areas. Therefore, WE should be telling our members of Congress to suspend further aid to Israel pending a thorough, INDEPENDENT (U.N.?) investigation of the proscribed weapons used in Israel's assault on Gaza, which may also include cluster bombs, depleted uranium, and DIME (Dense Inert Metal Explosives which leave undetectable traces of cancer-causing tungsten in survivors' bodies).
But, like the needed prosecution of the Bush war criminals, this will most likeley never happen. Justice and respect for laws are only expected of the weak, not the dominant.
The Israeli government must be held accountable. Ehud Olmert should be tried in the Hague, next to Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld et al, for crimes against humanity.
I have been to Israel and have Israeli friends, both Arab and Jew, and they are peace loving people who do not support "their" government's crimes just as most Americans do not support "our" government's crimes.
I suggest that the CEO's of weapons manufacturing companies also be tried for crimes against humanity. It's time for the world to set a new standard by holding accountable those responsible for these acts of violence, including those who profit.
ratdog
We could not agree more. What part of illegal do these people not understand. After yesterdays missile attacks attacks inside Pakistan seem to indicate the new president is in total ownership of this war and already has blood on his hands. This is what results from the war profiters do not face any penalties for the crimes they commit. I really do not think the current people in power wish to prosecute Bush and Olmert for war crimes when they know full well they may like to use these powers as well. Next thing you know they will be saying that they need to fund these illegal wars for the sake of the economy!! Lordy it never ends.
"Everyone knew we were using it, and everyone else uses it. We didn't think it would get this much attention," he said.
-Gee, everybody else is committing war crimes, so we thought it wasn't a big deal. The US does it all the time so what is the big deal? Right?
To the OS-DPAs (Obama-supporting Dem Party apologists) why hasn't Obama said a word about Israeli war crimes? Is not Obama's reaction EXACTLY the same response Bush would have given? Please elaborate on the not even a dimes worth of difference.
Swords to Plowshares, White Phosphorous Explosives to campfires and fireworks...
Isn't it time we gave the weapons manufacturers in this country an opportunity to make a living creating peaceful and productive items instead of weapons of mass destruction?
When is the U.S. Department of Peace I keep hearing about going to be created and begin implementing a total restructuring of our barbarian economy?
The U.S. Dept. of Peace will come about when Dennis Kucinich is taken seriously. The MSM seem to think he is amusing when he speaks of a Dept. of Peace, or Universal Healthcare, or healthy lifestyle, green technology, supporting unions, etc., in other words those things that are good for humanity.
The arms manufacturers are in the same business as those who manufacture roadside bombs only one is a corporation and one is mom and pop. The end result is the same. We view roadside bomb manufacturers as terrorists, and our arms manufacturers as patriots; what hypocrisy! The time hopefully will come (probably not in my lifetime) when all arms (except for hunting)(I am not a hunter, but understand the need)will be outlawed and the need to kill one another will have been selectively bred out of us by that Intelligent Design from which we have all evolved. Bombs don't kill people, people with bombs kill people!
About the same time the "Ministry of Truth" starts inventing history?
True. the Judeo-christian God is both petty and vindictive. But minitrue, my good man , we must focus here. The muslim God is supposed to be the cruel one , not our God . That why we have to kill his followers by the millions.
The zionists entity has again and again demonstrated that they don't deserve our support. Its only Raison d'etre" is a hasty and wrongful Resolution by UNSC ,the very same body they have (with impunity thanks to US) totally ignored ever since.
The Abrahamic God is one...Jewish, Muslim, Christian...and their paradigm is and has been one of war for millenia. The amount of killing and cruel acts committed in his name, for thousands of years, are among the great failures of humanity.
There was nothing hasty about that Resolution. Given that none of the now independent former European colonies in Africa and Asia were members, it is surprising that it actually took more than eight months to get the UN to approve of the partition of Palestine. They were unable to get an agreement and ended up with a temporary plan with a UN Trusteeship. Eight months is a long time for arm(s) twisting. I believe I recall reading that the Philippines Ambassador was under intense pressure to change his vote.
Israel is nothing if not consistent. They say, first of all, we didn't use it. Second, well, we did use it but it wasn't illegal. Third, "Some practices could be illegal but we are going into that." Fourth, we will come out of that the same way we went into it, continuing to lie as blatantly as humanly possible, just for the fun of it. ( It's but one of the charismatic tricks we've perfected by improving on those pedestrian propagandists in the Third Reich). Fifth, so what if it's illegal, screw you if you don't like it. Sixth, screw you if you do like it. And seventh, screw you even if you have no thoughts on the matter at all.
Those Zionists are so charming.
A senior army official also admitted that shells containing phosphorus had been used in Gaza but said that they were used to provide a smokescreen.
Yup..its common knowledge that burning Palistinian children provide the best smokescreens...
I think it is now safe to say that Hilter's Final Solution, and Israel's Palistinian Solution, are now morally equivilent. Only the total numbers differ, and the fact the Hilter only burned his victims AFTER they were dead.
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
this is no more a religious war than are the 'troubles' in ireland a religious war. our rulers however want us to believe the poppycock in order to prevent us from identifying with their other victims and -- the big issue -- their righteous struggles.
What a wonderful symbol of Jewishness is Israel! Where could you get a better advertisement? I mean, when you see what they do you just want to rush out and sign up for Judaism, don't you?
And now they admit what has been shown all over the world on television. Aren't they gracious? And they are setting up defence teams to stop their troops being changed with war crimes. Gee.
On second thoughts, I don't think I'll join up. I still have some principles.
They don't!
www.dangerouscreation.com
So much hatred...
Well if you can't stand the heat...
Ehud Olmert said the IDF soldiers who committed crimes will be protected by Israel. Not if I can get my hand on such cowards. None of them had better leave Israel, especially not for America. Perhaps we can find out who their relatives are in our countries.
A CNN poll found that 63% of Americans felt that Israel's war on Gaza was right. They say only 17% of Americans supported the Palestinians.
"The International Red Cross said Tuesday that Israel has fired white phosphorus shells in its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but has no evidence to suggest it is being used improperly or illegally. "
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231866575577&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Damn that Zionist Red Cross and their pro-Israeli propaganda!
And the latest CNN poll showed 99% of the world population think that you are a zionist fuckwit. CNN, and the rest of the US MSM polls or opinions are as good as the poll calling you a fuckwit.
I don't know horrified. I agree with the poster. Of course Israel used WP. Have to. It is the only thermal smoke. In 2006 Israel lost several tanks to RPGs and ATMs that used thermal imaging. This time they didn't lose any tanks. Sounds like it saved some Israeli lives at the cost of some enemy lives. Not a bad trade. Note that it was all airburst not ground burst which they would have used if trying to do damage to ground targets.
Sorry, Israel admitted using it as a weapon NOT a smokescreen. You buy their BS, the world does not.
Horrified,
Please, would you bother to read the article before commenting?
Israel has admitted to using WP "in it's offensive", not "as an offensive weapon".
They are even investigating their own military to make sure it was properly used.
Israel maintains, as does the IRC, that it's use of WP was legal.
Your lies are getting really tiresome.
Are you even capable of debating without distorting the facts or inventing them out of thin air?
Aren't you ashamed to have been proven a liar so many times?
BS.
I take it you mean Red Cross -ICRC ?
It is inconceivable that ICRC have said anything about the legality of IDF's use of Phosphorous. They have never, shall never and will never have any opinion on the legality of events during a war.
"If ICRC delegates in the field gather credible and precise evidence of violations, or if ICRC medical personnel corroborate reports by others, the ICRC would begin by discussing this with the party concerned – rather than speaking publicly – in keeping with our standard practices. We have not commented publicly on the legality of the current use of phosphorous weapons by Israel, contrary to what has been attributed to us in recent media reports".
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/weapons-interview-170109?opendocument
This is the way Red Cross operates, and this is the reason neither side refuse Red Cross access to any sites they might wish to visit. (Untill present regimes in US and Israel )-Like the White Buses to Auschwitz at the end of WWll. Not even that time did they venture any opinion on what they witnessed. Must have been hard to keep silent, but it is a "Sine qua non" for the important work they do.
A bit of advice: Be careful who you call a Liar. You look so silly when it backfires.
Daga,
"A bit of advice: Be careful who you call a Liar. You look so silly when it backfires."
How ironic.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231866575577&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
"In some of the strikes in Gaza it's pretty clear that phosphorus was used," Herby told The Associated Press. "But it's not very unusual to use phosphorus to create smoke or illuminate a target. We have no evidence to suggest it's being used in any other way."
Ahhh ... now i feel better. So the use of white phosphorous is essentially a smoke screen. It has nothing to do with chemical weapons and complete disregard for humanity. Zionists are not animals or serial killers after all. I can sleep well now. For a minute there I was disappointed with my Zionist soul brothers who have never failed to uphold the highest standards of integrity and morality. But now i feel better.
The Zionists plan for Plausible deniability is quite transparent., and so simple that it would only work with gullible acoloytes and retards. First the press is denied access to Gaza. Without credible eyewitness they will always find a person willing to rise sufficient doubt..and so yet another IDF atrocity is left to history...and the killers declared heroes and pure as snow. I don't know who this Peter Herby is, but as I (in vain) tried to tell you is it against the policy of ICRC to place any kind of culpability in a conflict. Still, when you manage to equate (read transform)
". We have no evidence to suggest it's being used in any other way."
to
"that it's use of WP was legal."
You are, as George Galloway said to Norm Coleman during his senate hearing--" remarkably cavalier with any idea of justice."
However the evidence is easy to find. Pictures of Gaza city in broad daylight Jan 3.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0114/p07s01-wome.html
and UN headquarter Jan 15:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5521925.ece
Further evidence:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/16/phosphorus-bombs-video-israel-gaza
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5519433.ece
My dear man: the discrepancy between your offensive language and limited intellectual capacity makes you look rather silly. My advice: Change attitude, change political orientation, change personality, and last but not least: change your underwear, you stink.
"I don't know who this Peter Herby is, but as I (in vain) tried to tell you is it against the policy of ICRC to place any kind of culpability in a conflict."
As it said in the article you didn't bother to read, Peter Herby is the head of the organization's mines-arms unit for the ICRC.
"In some of the strikes in Gaza it's pretty clear that phosphorus was used," Herby told The Associated Press. "But it's not very unusual to use phosphorus to create smoke or illuminate a target. We have no evidence to suggest it's being used in any other way."
"Herby said that using phosphorus to illuminate a target or create smoke is legitimate under international law, and that there was no evidence the Jewish state was intentionally using phosphorus in a questionable way, such as burning down buildings or knowingly putting civilians at risk.
The International Red Cross said Tuesday that Israel has fired white phosphorus shells in its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but has no evidence to suggest it is being used improperly or illegally. "
Facts are stubborn things aren't they Daga?
For the 3rd time.
ICRC is by it's very charter prevented from taking side in any conflict, and must NEVER make any comment on the legality of either side's actions.
And you use that characteristic of ICRC's MO as evidence ?
I don't know what motivates your idiotic remarks. Whether you are a despicable racist or just a quarrelsome fool. In any case I've had enough of your kind.
Good day to you Sir.
Seems the IMP (Israeli Propaganda Ministry) could afford to pay someone else with a few more brains than Joedope to post comments here. White phosphorus is very expensive so their budget only allows for minimum wage propaganda recruits.
Wow Johnnyshade, that's a really good trade. Let's destroy an entire area the size of Los Angeles and burn people alive if it saves a few tanks.
Where would Israel be if they lost a couple of tanks seeing as the US only gives them three billion dollars a year to arm themselves to the teeth?
It's posts like yours that warm my heart and give me hope for humanity...thanks.
"f***wit"
Can't handle the truth, Horrified?
JoeHope is a demented Israel stooge. I am on the local American Red Cross Board and a member of the IRC and the e-mail I received yesterday said that 79% of the world and 68% of Americans oppose what Israel did in Gaza. ASlso, Israel may be the most hated country in the world, as are its people.
Jonah,
Do you deny that the IRC has issued a statement saying that Israel did not use WP illegally?
Here is a link to the statement that you can deny exists:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231866575577&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
"The International Red Cross said Tuesday that Israel has fired white phosphorus shells in its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but has no evidence to suggest it is being used improperly or illegally." -JP
-in other words they don't have evidence doesn't mean it wasn't done. By the way that article came from the Jerusalem Post. Foxes guarding hen houses?
Ric Abreu,
You are starting with the presumption of guilt, regardless of the fact that you have no evidence (or at least the Red Cross doesn't believe you do).
What's the matter with the Jerusalem Post?
Who are the 42% of Americans that support it???????????
That 42-44% that support it are also the ones who belive in angels and await with breathless anticipation for the 'Second Coming' of Jebus, and 'The Rapture (tm)', as advertised by that whacko author of teh 'Left Behind' series of trash paperbacks...
Walk in peace.