Odium, et al,
Oh you are so full of it.
2 Israel lovers conveniently forgetting the fact how many times Israel has been found guilty for crimes by the UN....Israel that targets kids and old people and women,Israel that used white phosphorous on civilians, Israel that targets schools and hospitals.
(COMMENT)
There was a single period deployment [
Operation Cast Lead (OCL) at midday on 27 December 2008] of white phosphorus (WP) munitions use. Israel acknowledged using them in a 6 January 2009 strike that killed 43 Palestinians outside an UNRWA school in Jabaliya being used as a shelter. These are the pictures that you see most often. However, in March 2009, Human Rights Watch made unsubstantiated reports of WP use at seven (7) HAMAS targets in northern Gaza (Bayt Lahiya, Siyafa, al-Atatra), Gaza City
(including a 15 January strike that destroyed UNRWA’s main food storage depot), and fire missions in Khuza near Khan Yunis. You can tell by the small number of rounds used, these were fired for other than effective destruction
(spotting guns --- marking and registration).
Israel’s Illegal Use of White Phosphorus During ‘Operation Cast Lead’
Israeli and international human rights organizations accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions improperly during Israel’s three-week military offensive against Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza in the winter of 2008-9. Such munitions are not prohibited under international law, but they are not supposed to be used in civilian areas, because white phosphorus is highly flammable and, like napalm, it can burn flesh. Israel maintained that its use of shells containing phosphorus did not violate international law.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) doesn't make a judgement of legality or illegality. If it observes a questionable event, it "discussing this with the party concerned – rather than speaking publicly – in keeping with our standard practices."
Peter Herby, Head of the ICRC's Arms Unit: "We have not commented publicly on the legality of the current use of phosphorous weapons by Israel, contrary to what has been attributed to us in recent media reports."
• "In some of the strikes in Gaza it's pretty clear that phosphorus was used," Herby told The Associated Press. "But it's not very unusual to use phosphorus to create smoke or illuminate a target. We have no evidence to suggest it's being used in any other way." ---- Herby said that using phosphorus to illuminate a target or create smoke is legitimate under international law, and that there was no evidence the Jewish state was intentionally using phosphorus in a questionable way, such as burning down buildings or consciously putting civilians at risk.
I suppose that the ICRC made a good
(Article 2, Protocol III) case with the IDF; and the IDF made a decision to error on the side of caution; terminating the use. The Israel Defense Force Investigative outcomes are clear that there were cases in which the WP was used inappropriately and out of policy. Corrective measures have been taken.
In every war that last for decades
(HAMAS declaring Jihad in 1988), there are bound to be incidents that might be viewed as excessive. War is environment prone for events. And we need to be prepared to hear whining from the Arab Palestinian aggressors for yet another 20 years.
As for the rest of this broad brush stroke, Israel was targeting hostile rocket launch sites and other HAMAS activity locations. It is what you do in war. To the extend possible, warnings are given. The Arab Palestinians are eventually going to unmask themselves for the street bully they are --- and the crybaby they play on the world stage. They instigate a conflict and spend the entire time whining to the world about how badly they are being beat.
Most Respectfully,
R