There are quite a few people saying that Israeli forces are using phosphorous bombs in their strikes on Gaza. In light of these reports, I had a few questions in regards to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The first, is Israel using these weapons indiscriminately? Second, how dangerous are these weapons? And finally, why isn't there more of an outcry in the Western media against the use of white phosphorous?
The first question is undoubtedly the most difficult to address. In one of the most densely populated regions of the world, using any type of weapon or device that isn't utterly precise will lead to civilian casualties. Any type of explosive that leaves a residue scattered on the breeze can affect a great number of people. Is this intentional on the part of the Israelis? Maybe. It's hard to tell. However, the possibility alone should be enough for them to cease their use of WP. The mere possibility of civilian casualties should lead them to use a different type of weapon to achieve their end goal. They have to take the high road in this conflict if they want to accomplish anything more than smashing Gaza to bits.
On to what WP does and is, an area I had to rely on quick research to understand. White phosphorous (Willy Pete for those of you who know that term) is legal in certain uses, primarily as a smoke screen or in tracer rounds, from what I understand. The actual uses for this chemical are largely new to me. If the Israelis are using WP in actions that are in accord with international law, how can so many civilians be showing up with deep-tissue burns, a symptom of WP attacks? The Israelis must know that the weapons they are using are resulting in these afflictions. It's not something that is affecting only Hamas fighters, but also women and children and other non-combatants.
One of the major health issues with WP is that it is a horrendous carcinogen. After exposure, people need treatment at least every six months in order to stave off cancerous tumors. So, this is not a short-term problem. We will see the effects of this weapon long into the future, which means that everyone needs to be careful with it, including the US which used it in Iraq. Will people in the US continue to rail on tobacco companies while their government is using this and allowing its use in civilian areas?
So, where is the outcry? Why don't we see headlines in the NY Times about how the Israelis are using these chemicals which can cause serious long-term health problems? I can't answer this one. I'm not sure. People are out there protesting the unfair treatment of Palestinians, I applaud them. But no one is bringing up the use of this particular chemical. WP is not crucial to Israel's success in Gaza. In fact, it's probably hurting their odds of coming out of this thing ahead of where they started. If they continue using it, it will play into the hands of their enemies.
What do you think? Did I miss anything, or am I horribly misinformed on WP? Either way, I feel this is something unnecessary in warfare.
Peace.
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