According to Protocol III of the Convention of the Conventional weapons (CCW), it is prohibited to use incendiary weapons. White Phosphorus , which is an incendiary weapon, is prohibited in the Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to be used against any military objective within concentrations of civilians unless the military objective is clearly separated from the civilians.

On October 10 and 11 ,2023, Human Rights Watch verified videos taken in Lebanon and Gaza showing multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port. The use of white phosphorus in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, magnifies the risk to civilians and violates the international humanitarian law. prohibition on using illegal methods of warfare and putting civilians lives at risk.

This was not the first time for Israel to use white phosphorus in its war. It used it for 22 consecutive days from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009.

Characteristics & Effects of White Phosphorus weapon:

White phosphorus is widely known by some characteristics which includes the garlic stifling smell. It can also be seen as dense white smoke. White phosphorus ignites when exposed to atmospheric oxygen and continues to burn until it is deprived of oxygen or exhausted. Its chemical reaction can create intense heat (about 815°C/1,500°F), light, and smoke.

White phosphorus leaves tremendous and incalculable side effects. Since it is an incendiary weapon, it severely burn people and set structures, fields, and other civilian objects in the vicinity on fire. But its danger extend beyond its power to burn as it can seep into the bloodstream through the skin, poisoning the kidneys, liver, and heart and causing multiple organ failure. Even worse, it smolders inside the body, and reignite when bandages are removed; thus, it exacerbate wounds even after treatment.

The image shows some of the damages that white phosphorus causes.