In a recent report by Human Rights Watch and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, 23 confirmed instances of Israeli deployment of white phosphorus munitions in southern Lebanon between March and May 2026 were documented. This report has urged the international community to consider new regulations addressing these lethal weapons, citing their severe humanitarian consequences. Bonnie Docherty, a senior arms advisor at Human Rights Watch, underscored the critical concerns, noting the profound physical, psychological, and socioeconomic harm these munitions can inflict.
The current framework, specifically Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), prohibits the use of air-dropped incendiary weapons in civilian areas. However, the focus on air-dropped weapons, coupled with its definitions, raises concerns over loopholes that may fail to protect civilians adequately. To address such issues, the report underscores the relevance of the Martens Clause in international humanitarian law. This provision ensures civilian protection under customary international law in situations where specific treaties may be absent, emphasizing principles of humanity and public conscience that demand targeted legal protections when weapons fail to meet humane standards.
Experts in the report highlight that white phosphorus causes severe injuries, including deep burns, respiratory damage, and organ failure. These injuries are described as some of the most excruciating an individual can sustain, requiring extensive medical interventions and psychological support. The moral dimensions, captured through statements from governments and NGOs, emphasize the cruel nature of these injuries and the shocking lack of accountability for their indiscriminate use. As such, these experts insist that countries prioritize this issue at the upcoming UN General Assembly disarmament meeting in October 2026, arguing that existing legal protections fall short.
The troubling use of white phosphorus by Israeli forces has a well-documented history. For instance, Amnesty International reported its deployment along Lebanon’s southern border in October 2023 and additionally in the Gaza Strip. In 2024, Human Rights Watch similarly advocated for enhanced regulations concerning incendiary weapons. White phosphorus, a volatile chemical that ignites instantly upon contact with oxygen, can disperse over wide areas, burning continuously for extended periods and thus amplifying its destructive potential.
Calls for stricter international controls on such munitions remain a critical issue for international humanitarian discourse. The continued use of white phosphorus poses significant ethical and legal challenges that demand urgent international attention and cooperative action to mitigate further human suffering.
Further details on the recent report can be seen on JURIST, highlighting the urgency and specificity of the recommendations put forth by the rights experts.