Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Israel to cease the use of white phosphorus munitions, citing their deployment over civilian areas in Yohmor, a town in southern Lebanon, on March 3. The rights group documented the use of these munitions, which are known for their incendiary effects and are controversial under international law, through verified images of airburst chemical munitions. The photographs reportedly show fires on residential rooftops, balconies, and vehicles, highlighting the potential for severe civilian harm.
HRW’s previous investigations revealed that Israeli forces used white phosphorus in at least 17 locations across southern Lebanon between October 2023 and May 2024, a timeline backed by visual evidence including characteristic smoke clouds. The UN Human Rights Office has also confirmed Israel’s deployment of white phosphorus in military operations in Gaza. White phosphorus is a contentious weapon because it ignites upon contact with oxygen, causing severe burns or fires, and can have devastating effects on human skin, potentially leading to organ failure and fatal wounds, even from minor burns.
International humanitarian law, specifically Protocol III of The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, prohibits the use of incendiary weapons like white phosphorus against civilian targets. Although Israel is a signatory to the convention, it has not agreed to Protocol III, which specifically addresses incendiary weapons. This has led to ongoing international discourse about the weapon’s legality in conflict zones. HRW is urging a halt on the use of white phosphorus and is calling on countries supplying weapons to Israel to consider suspending these distributions, a move echoed by HRW’s Lebanon researcher, Ramzi Kaiss.
This call for action follows various incidents where the use of such chemicals has come under scrutiny, raising ethical and legal questions about their deployment. More details can be found in the initial report by JURIST. Additionally, coverage by the BBC and The Guardian further corroborates these findings, which emphasize the urgent need for adherence to international law in military operations.