Despite previous denials by Israel that it had used phosphorus munitions in the recent war with its northern neighbor, Lebanon, Israeli officials earlier this week admitted that it had in fact attacked Hizbullah targets with phosphorus shells.
"The IDF made use of phosphorous shells during the war against Hizbullah in attacks against military targets in open ground,” said Israeli Minister Jacob Edery, in charge of government-Knesset relations, according to Haaretz.
Edery had reportedly been queried on the matter by MK Zahava Gal-On of the left-leaning Meretz-Yahad party.
This is the first time that Israel has admitted to using the substance in the recent war following reports by Lebanese sources that traces of such munitions had been found in Lebanon. Israel had until now admitted to using the substance only as a means to mark targets or territory.
Edery, however, insisted that Israel had not broken international law by using the munitions, saying that the Israeli military had “used this type of munitions according to the rules of international law."
Some experts believe that phosphorus munitions should be termed Chemical Weapons (CW) thereby becoming an illegal weapon. The International Red Cross maintains that there should be a complete ban on phosphorus.
White phosphorus can cause painful and fatal chemical burns to those hit by it. It has been used by armies since World War I, and was extensively used during World War II and in the Vietnam War.
The third protocol of the Geneva Convention on Conventional Weapons, of which Israel and the United States are not signatories, restricts the use of "incendiary weapons."
