Israel Adapts to the limitation of the use of White Phosphorus
Posted on July 21, 2010 by Shay Greenberg for Luckyroom.com
Israel pledged to limit the use of white phosphorus as weapons and civilian casualties in future conflicts, according to a report sent this week to UN Secretary-General for the bloody business ” Compact Pencil “that took place late 2008 – early 2009 in Gaza Strip. “The Chief of General Staff of the Israeli army (Gaby Ashkenazi) ordered to draw up a clear doctrine and to provide guidance on various weapons containing phosphorus , ” states the report , 37 pages sent by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Secretary General’s Office the UN Ban Ki Moon.
“These instructions apply, “the letter by stating that the army supported changes to the doctrine of fighting that has adopted “in order to reduce the number of casualties among civilians and damage to private property. The Israeli army has adopted new procedures to strengthen civil protection during fighting in populated areas, an officer in charge of humanitarian affairs will be included in each unit combat, starting with the battalion level.
Israel was the target of intense criticism in the world after the publication of the number of civilians lost their lives and the use of phosphorous bombs “Operation Pencil Compact. According to Palestinian health services and non- governmental organizations (NGOs) for the Protection of Human Rights, 1400 Palestinians were killed, among them 320 minors and 13 Israelis. We want to prove that we act in full transparency and we want to cooperate with the UN and the international community, “spokesman of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Gigkal Palmor.
White phosphorous is a material that ignites on contact with oxygen in the atmosphere and burns at high temperatures. Exposure to such toxic products can be lethal. It can also cause severe skin burns and severe damage to the liver, heart and kidney. Its use in residential areas is regulated by Protocol III of Convention on Conventional Weapons of 1980 on the prohibition or restriction of incendiary weapons “which Israel has signed.
