Amnesty accuses Israel of war crimes
Human rights group Amnesty International accused Israel of war crimes on Monday, saying its use of white phosphorus munitions in densely populated areas of Gaza was indiscriminate and illegal.
White phosphorus is a high-incendiary substance that burns very brightly and for long periods.
It frequently is used to produce smoke screens, but can also be used as a weapon, producing extreme burns if it makes contact with skin.
“Such extensive use of this weapon in Gaza’s densely populated residential neighbourhoods is inherently indiscriminate,” Donatella Rovera, a Middle East researcher with Amnesty International, said in a statement.
“Its repeated use in this manner, despite evidence of its indiscriminate effects and its toll on civilians, is a war crime,” she said.
Use of white phosphorus is not prohibited under international law, but the indiscriminate use of any weapon in an area crowded with civilians could be used as the basis to make war crimes charges, legal experts have said.
Israel said last week all weapons used during its three-week offensive in Gaza complied with international law, but said it would carry out an internal investigation into white phosphorus following claims of its use by rights groups.
“In response to the claims … relating to the use of phosphorus weapons, and in order to remove any ambiguity, an investigative team has been established in southern command to look into the issue,” the Israeli army said.
In response to Amnesty’s accusations, a military spokesman said on Monday the army “uses weapons in compliance with international law, while strictly observing that they be used in accordance with the type of combat and its characteristics.”
Amnesty is not the first group to accuse Israel of using white phosphorus — Human Rights Watch made the accusation on Jan. 10, in the midst of the fighting, and the United Nations also said it believed the munition had been used.
But Amnesty’s accusations were made on the basis of an on-the-ground study by a British weapons expert following the ceasefire put into force by Israel and Hamas on Sunday.
Weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith, who visited Gaza as part of a four-person Amnesty team, said he had found widespread evidence of the use of the incendiary material.
“We saw streets and alleyways littered with evidence of the use of white phosphorus, including still-burning wedges and the remnants of the shells and canisters fired by the Israeli army,” he said in a statement.
“White phosphorus is a weapon intended to provide a smokescreen for troop movements on the battlefield. It is highly incendiary, air burst and its spread effect is such that it should never be used on civilian areas,” he said.
Among the places worst-affected by use of white phosphorous was the U.N. Relief and Works Agency compound in Gaza, Amnesty said. Israel shelled the compound on Jan. 15, causing widespread damage. The U.N. at the time accused Israel of using white phosphorus, but the Israeli army refused to comment.
Israel faces potential claims in international courts for its actions in Gaza, where it launched an attack against Hamas on Dec. 27, with the stated aim of stopping the Islamist group from firing rockets and mortars into Israel.
Israel’s foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said on Monday she was “at peace” with the actions Israel had taken during the conflict, but also said the nation should be prepared to fend off international accusations of war crimes.
---------------------------
| Tweet |
· Other posts by Newswire
Filed under
Blog ,Foreign affairs ,Middle East ,Realpolitik
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Reader comments
I think firing crapola ‘roll of the dice’ rockets at Israel is also a war crime.
It is a bit like the IRA talking about torture when they murdered all the POWs they captured.
Frappola
I love how such a liberal group such as Amnesty accuses Israel of war crimes for a vague and unproven claim, whilst completely ignoring the consistent 8 year war crime of Hamas firing rockets at Israeli CIVILIANS!
Is this a human rights organisation? Depends which type of human you are I suppose. Hypocrits!
Reactions: Twitter, blogs
- links for 2009-01-20 « Embololalia
[...] Liberal Conspiracy » Amnesty accuses Israel of war crimes | creating a new liberal-left alliance “We saw streets and alleyways littered with evidence of the use of white phosphorus, including still-burning wedges and the remnants of the shells and canisters fired by the Israeli army,” he said in a statement. (tags: conflict israel) [...]
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or RSS feed. You can also get them by email and through our Facebook group.
» Why Quantitative Easing doesn’t make common sense
» Barclays was also bailed out – Diamond doesn’t deserve a bonus
» Ten myths about private rented housing
» Even on the left, morality has its limits
» The NHS bill could be a Waterloo moment for the govt
» Ken Livingstone and gay rights – it just isn’t an issue
» Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles?
» New study shows a Robinhood tax would boost growth
» In defence of Sky News’ re-Tweeting ban
» Another reason to continue banker bashing
» An attack on the wind industry is an attack on UK jobs
|
14 Comments 17 Comments 26 Comments 42 Comments 21 Comments 13 Comments 49 Comments 11 Comments 78 Comments 5 Comments |
LATEST COMMENTS » Robin Levett posted on An attack on the wind industry is an attack on UK jobs » kernowjim posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality » ROFLMFAO posted on Fabians change policy on unpaid internships » Cherub posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality » jojo posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction » Sun journos nicked in hack enquiry shocker « andrew henley posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction » Daniel Factor posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality » UKFI Not FFP posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality » Frances_coppola posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense » Spike1138 posted on Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles? » Bren Cook posted on New study shows a Robinhood tax would boost growth » Frances_coppola posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense » Tricia McDaid posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction » Edward Buxton posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction » Rich posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction |









