Human Rights Watch affirmed on Wednesday that “Israel’s widespread use of white phosphorus munitions in southern Lebanon is endangering civilians and displacing residents of border communities.”
In a statement, HRW confirmed the use of white phosphorous munitions “since October 2023, by Israeli forces in at least 17 municipalities in South Lebanon, including five where airburst munitions were used illegally over populated residential areas.”
White phosphorus is a chemical substance dissipated by artillery shells, bombs or rockets, which ignites when exposed to oxygen. Its incendiary effects can cause death or serious injury, resulting in lifelong suffering.
“Under international humanitarian law, the use of airburst white phosphorus is unlawfully indiscriminate in populated areas and otherwise does not meet the legal requirement to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm,” the statement continued.
HRW also verified and geolocated 47 photos and videos recorded in the region (Kfar Kila, Mays al-Jabal, Boustane, Markaba and Aita al-Shaab…) that show white smoke trails containing white phosphorus on the roofs of residential buildings.
Sources told Human Rights Watch that the use of white phosphorus in populated areas of southern Lebanon had caused smoke inhalation asphyxiation, resulting in hospitalization and the displacement of residents of several villages on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health indicated that exposure to white phosphorus had injured at least 173 people since October 2023.
The HRW called for “stricter international standards against the use of white phosphorus to ensure that these weapons do not continue to endanger civilians.”
