IMAGE :

1 of 5

December 5, 2008

Israel rains fire on Gaza with phosphorusshells

(Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images)

Israeli artillery shells explode with a chemical agent designed to create smokescreen for ground forces

RELATED LINKS

It breaks my heart to seeIsrael's stupidityBrown calls for ceasefire inGazaMilitary incursion is part ofWar on Terror

MULTIMEDIA

Gaza conflictSheera Frenkel in Jerusalem and Michael Evans, Defence Editor

Opinion: Michael Lerner|Brown calls for ceasefire|Europe split on response|Comment: James Bone|Israel splits Gaza| Doctors overwhelmed|Analysis: Colonel Lior Lotan|Leading articleIsrael is believed to be using controversial white phosphorusshells to screen its assault on the heavily populated Gaza Stripyesterday. The weapon, used by British and US forces in Iraq,can cause horrific burns but is not illegal if used as asmokescreen.As the Israeli army stormed to the edges of Gaza City and thePalestinian death toll topped 500, the tell-tale shells could beseen spreading tentacles of thick white smoke to cover thetroops’ advance. “These explosions are fantastic looking, andproduce a great deal of smoke that blinds the enemy so that ourforces can move in,” said one Israeli security expert. Burningblobs of phosphorus would cause severe injuries to anyonecaught beneath them and force would-be snipers or operators ofremote-controlled booby traps to take cover. Israel admittedusing white phosphorus during its 2006 war with Lebanon.The use of the weapon in the Gaza Strip, one of the world’smostly densely population areas, is likely to ignite yet morecontroversy over Israel’s offensive, in which more than 2,300Palestinians have been wounded.The Geneva Treaty of 1980stipulates that white phosphorusshould not be used as a weaponof war in civilian areas, but there isno blanket ban under internationallaw on its use as a smokescreenor for illumination. However,Charles Heyman, a military expertand former major in the BritishArmy, said: “If white phosphoruswas deliberately fired at a crowdof people someone would end upin The Hague. White phosphorus isalso a terror weapon. Thedescending blobs of phosphoruswill burn when in contact withskin.”The Israeli military last nightdenied using phosphorus, butrefused to say what had beendeployed. “Israel uses munitionsthat are allowed for under international law,” said Captain IshaiDavid, spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces. “We arepressing ahead with the second stage of operations, enteringtroops in the Gaza Strip to seize areas from which rockets arebeing launched into Israel.”The civilian toll in the first 24 hours of the ground offensive —launched after a week of bombardment from air, land and sea—was at least 64 dead. Among those killed were five members of afamily who died when an Israeli tank shell hit their car and aparamedic who died when a tank blasted his ambulance. Doctorsat Gaza City’s main hospital said many women and children wereamong the dead and wounded.

INSIDE IRAQTIMES RECOMMENDS

'We fight Israel one day on,one day off'Europe freezes as gas tapsare turned offBush turns green to savemarine treasures

GAZA CONFLICT

UN is calling for ceasefire inthe escalating conflict

Slide Show

ASHURA

Day of remembrance for themartyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali,grandson of the ProphetMuhammad

Slide Show

PICTURES OF THE DAY

A selection of the best imagesfrom around the world

Slide Show

IFA Sear