Israel admits to using white phosphorus in Gaza invasion

Saturday August 01, 2009 19:06 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

After initially denying the use of white phosphorus against the population of Gaza during its invasion in January 2009 (despite clear video evidence showing the chemical agent), the Israeli occupation government has now admitted to firing white phosphorus, but says the army's use of the agent was in accordance with international law.

White phosphorus, a skin-burning chemical agent that continues burning for weeks after being fired, is allowed in certain specific circumstances, according to international law. It may only be used as an obscurant, to provide cover for troops, and may not be fired at people.

But video footage from the three-week long Israeli attack clearly shows the agent being fired in multiple rounds toward populated civilian areas, and UN facilities where civilians had taken shelter.

The admission by the Israeli government comes in advance of what is expected to be the most damning report of its invasion to date, a United Nations investigative report that is expected to be released next week.

John Ging, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, told a correspondent for Al Jazeera network that the admission is an "acknowledgment that an investigation has to be done into what happened" during the Israeli assault in January.

But he added that this process has taken "far too long", saying, "What we actually need is an independent investigation that is credible for both sides".

The statement on white phosphorus was part of a 163-page report by the Israeli Foreign Ministry that almost completely absolves the Israeli military of any wrongdoing during its invasion of Gaza.

The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other international, Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations have presented evidence of Israeli war crimes and violations of international law, but this evidence has been ignored by Israeli 'investigators' of their military's conduct.

One hundred formal complaints against the Israeli military have also been filed, which the Israeli government says it is beginning to address.

Barhoum demands expediting trials of Israeli war criminals for their crimes in Gaza

[ 02/08/2009 - 03:49 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, has said that the world community should expedite the trial of Israeli war criminals for their war crimes in Gaza. Otherwise, they would commit more crimes against the Palestinian people.

Barhoum told PIC on Sunday said that the Israeli document, which justified the war on Gaza by saying it was meant to counter the threat posed by Hamas, was a "desperate attempt" to cover up for the war crimes committed in Gaza.

He underlined, however, that international fact finding missions and human rights organizations had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Israel had actually committed war crimes.

"We are now waiting for practical steps to start the trial of Zionist enemy leaders as war criminals", he added.

The spokesman urged the world to adopt swift measures to start the trials, hoping that none would heed the Israeli fabrications and justifications but rather to base their judgment on reports by international institutions that visited Gaza and certified the crimes.