What is white phosphorus and is it illegal? Israel accused of using weapon on Lebanon during Iran war
Israel has unlawfully released white phosphorous on homes in Lebanon, according to evidence found by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The organisation said it had verified and geolocated seven images showing an airburst of white phosphorous munitions deployed over a residential area in the southern Lebanon town of Yohmor.
Civil defence workers were also pictured responding to fires in at least two homes and one car in that area on March 3.
The global human rights group found the shape of the smoke cloud caused by the airbursts in the picture to be consistent with the “knuckle” made by the expelling and bursting charges of an artillery projectile that contains white phosphorous.
“The Israeli military’s unlawful use of white phosphorous over residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at HRW. “The incendiary effects of white phosphorous can cause death or cruel injuries that result in lifelong suffering.”
Chemical warfare is in direct violation of international humanitarian law, according to the HRW who said “the use of airburst white phosphorous is unlawfully indiscriminate in populated areas” and it “does not meet the legal requirement to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm.”
The organisation has called on Israel to immediately halt the practice and has demanded allies – UK, US and Germany, to stop arming Israel with weapons and impose targeted sanctions on officials it says are “credibly implicated in grave crimes”.
White phosphorous is a chemical substance which is waxy and solid. It typically appears yellowish or colourless, and its odour has been described as resembling garlic.
Burning phosphorous creates a dense, white irritating smoke which ignites instantly upon contact with oxygen at temperatures above 30C. Once ignited, white phosphorous is very difficult to extinguish and it sticks to surfaces like skin and clothing.
It can be legally used by militaries to illuminate battlefields and to generate a smokescreen and as an incendiary.
White phosphorous is dangerous to humans by all routes of exposure, and is especially harmful to the eyes and impacts breathing.
It can cause deep and severe burns, even penetrating through bone. It can also be absorbed in toxic amounts through the skin, mouth and nose.
The systemic effects of it may impact people 24 hours after exposure, causing cardiovascular collapse, as well as comas. It may even lead to death from significant shock or central nervous system damage.
The HRW has previously documented the Israeli military’s widespread use of white phosphorous between October 2023 and May 2024 across border villages in South Lebanon.
