Israel to probe phosphorus claims

Rights groups say images from the conflict prove the use of phosphorus

The Israeli army is to investigate claims it used white phosphorus illegally during its three-week offensive in Gaza.

The move follows numerous allegations by rights groups and in media reports that the army fired phosphorus shells where they could harm civilians.

The UN said its headquarters were hit by three such shells causing a fire destroying much of its aid supplies.

White phosphorus is legal for making smokescreens on a battlefield.

The Israeli army says all its weapons in the Gaza offensive were entirely legal, but until now has refused to specify which weapons it used.

White phosphorus sticks to human skin and will burn right through to the bone, causing death or leaving survivors with painful wounds which are slow to heal. Its ingestion or inhalation can also be fatal.

In a statement, the Israeli army confirmed it would look into the allegations that it had misused the substance but said it "only uses weapons permitted by law".

"In response to the claims of NGOs and claims in the foreign press relating to the use of phosphorus weapons, and in order to remove any ambiguity, an investigative team has been established in the Southern Command to look into the issue," the army said.

According to the international convention on the use of incendiary weapons, the substance should not be used where civilians are concentrated.

During the campaign Human Rights Watch (HRW) said its researchers observed multiple shell-bursts of white phosphorus from the Gaza-Israeli border.

They argued that any use of white phosphorus in the heavily populated Gaza Strip would be illegal.

After Israel's unilateral ceasefire, and its opening border crossings to some international journalists, press photographs and video footage have been published appearing to show smouldering and burning lumps of white phosphorus which landed in populated areas.