After weeks of denying that it used white phosphorus in the heavily populated Gaza Strip, Israel finally admitted yesterday that the weapon was deployed in its offensive.<\/p>\n
The army\u2019s use of white phosphorus \u2014 which makes a distinctive shellburst of dozens of smoke trails \u2014 was reported first by The Times<\/em> on January 5, when it was strenuously denied by the army. Now, in the face of mounting evidence and international outcry, Israel has been forced to backtrack on that initial denial. \u201cYes, phosphorus was used but not in any illegal manner,\u201d Yigal Palmor, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told The Times<\/em>. \u201cSome practices could be illegal but we are going into that. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is holding an investigation concerning one specific incident.\u201d<\/p>\n The incident in question is thought to be the firing of phosphorus shells at a UN school in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on January 17. The weapon is legal if used as a smokescreen in battle but it is banned from deployment in civilian areas. Pictures of the attack show Palestinian medics fleeing as blobs of burning phosphorus rain down on the compound.<\/p>\n A senior army official also admitted that shells containing phosphorus had been used in Gaza but said that they were used to provide a smokescreen.<\/p>\n The Ministry of Defence gave lawyers the task before the attack of investigating the legal consequences of deploying white phosphorus \u2014 commonly stocked in Nato arsenals and used by US and British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan \u2014 inside the Gaza Strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, and one of the most densely populated places in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I know, at least one month before it was used a legal team had been consulted on the implications,\u201d an Israeli defence official said. He added that Israel was surprised about the public outcry. \u201cEveryone knew we were using it, and everyone else uses it. We didn\u2019t think it would get this much attention,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Because Israel is not a signatory to the treaty that created the International Court of Justice in The Hague, it cannot be tried there. Any country that is a signatory to the Geneva Convention, however, can try to prosecute individuals who took part in the Gaza operation as culpable of war crimes.<\/p>\n Despite a denial when The Times<\/em> first reported the use of white phosphorus, an army spokeswoman said yesterday that the military had never tried to cover up its deployment. \u201cThere was never any denial from the beginning,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n – President Sarkozy of France ordered the deployment of a frigate to international waters off Gaza to patrol against arms smuggling into the territory. Preventative measures against arms trafficking are one of Israel\u2019s demands for a peace deal with Hamas. The warship will conduct surveillance with Egypt and Israel, the French presidency said.<\/p>\n CHANGING TUNE<\/strong><\/p>\n January 5<\/strong> The Times<\/em> reports that telltale smoke has appeared from areas of shelling. Israel denies using phosphorus<\/p>\n January 8<\/strong> The Times<\/em> reports photographic evidence showing stockpiles of white phosphorus (WP) shells. Israel Defence Forces spokesman says: \u201cThis is what we call a quiet shell \u2014 it has no explosives and no white phosphorus\u201d<\/p>\n January 12<\/strong> The Times<\/em> reports that more than 50 phosphorus burns victims are taken into Nasser Hospital. An Israeli military spokesman \u201ccategorically\u201d denies the use of white phosphorus<\/p>\n January 15<\/strong> Remnants of white phosphorus shells are found in western Gaza. The IDF refuses to comment on specific weaponry but insists ammunition is \u201cwithin the scope of international law\u201d<\/p>\n January 16<\/strong> The United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters are hit with phosphorus munitions. The Israeli military continues to deny its use<\/p>\n January 21<\/strong> Avital Leibovich, Israel\u2019s military spokeswoman, admits white phosphorus munitions were employed in a manner \u201caccording to international law\u201d<\/p>\n January 23<\/strong> Israel says it is launching an investigation into white phosphorus munitions, which hit a UN school on January 17. \u201cSome practices could be illegal but we are going into that. The IDF is holding an investigation concerning one specific unit and one incident\u201d Source: Times database<\/p>\n Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.<\/p>\n