Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Israel Admits It "May" Have Used White Phosphorus in Gaza


"May" have used? As though Israel doesn't keep a precise inventory on the number of white phosphorus weapons in its arsenal. Please.

The photo above from The Guardian shows an Israeli 155 mm. howitzer. The light green shells are Willie Pete or white phosphorus rounds.

From The Guardian:

Israel has admitted – after mounting pressure – that its troops may have used white phosphorus shells in contravention of international law, during its three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip.

One of the places most seriously affected by the use of white phosphorus was the main UN compound in Gaza City, which was hit by three shells on 15 January. The same munition was used in a strike on the al-Quds hospital in Gaza City the same day.


Just mentioning this is enough these days to get one branded an anti-Semite. So here's another way to look at it. Would you accept Canadian forces firing white phosphorus rounds into Afghan villages where they thought they'd spotted Taliban insurgents? Would you expect Canadian commanders who had used such terrible weapons on civilian areas to be punished? I know I sure as hell would but, then again, I don't think you would find a Canadian officer willing to fire white phosphorus into a residential area, much less at a United Nations compound.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just mentioning this is enough these days to get one branded an anti-Semite. So here's another way to look at it. Would you accept Canadian forces firing white phosphorus rounds into Afghan villages where they thought they'd spotted Taliban insurgents
But it's different when Israel does it. Just ask Jason Cherniak, Levant, Warren K or Iggy the Ignorant.

sassy said...

"May" have used

*#%$#

Call me anti- (whatever you please) but that does not change the fact that I find that choice of wording very insulting.

p.s. the world may be 100% gullible.

Oemissions said...

Just another mistake. We will apologize for it, Israel said.