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Israeli Forces Accused of Using White Phosphorus Shells in Gaza, Exacerbating Humanitarian Crisis

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Key takeaways:

  • Amnesty International has verified photos and video indicating Israel has been using white phosphorus ammunition in densely populated civilian areas of Gaza.
  • The Israel Defense Forces have warned residents to evacuate from Gaza’s north, and the humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the surprise assault on October 7.
  • The use of white phosphorus shells by Israeli forces has been condemned by human rights groups, who say it could be a violation of international law.

Two humanitarian organizations and an eyewitness have accused Israeli forces of using white phosphorus shells in their bombardment of the Gaza Strip, potentially violating international law. This comes as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced by the Israeli military’s aerial bombardment in retaliation for Hamas’ attack one week ago.

Amnesty International said Friday that photos and video verified by the organization’s Crisis Evidence Lab indicate that Israel has been using white phosphorus ammunition in densely populated civilian areas of Gaza. Photos taken on October 9 show Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops had positioned M109 155mm Howitzers near the southern city of Sderot, roughly eight kilometers from the Gaza border.

The Israel Defense Forces warned residents to evacuate from Gaza’s north — home of its largest population center, Gaza City — on Friday, and the deadline has passed. There hasn’t been electricity in days, and its largest hospital, Al-Shifa, is now a shelter for 35,000 people, with men sleeping in the parking lot and women inside.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by the surprise assault on October 7, which has left the territory under siege and cut off basic utilities. The use of white phosphorus shells by Israeli forces has been condemned by human rights groups, who say it could be a violation of international law requiring military forces to take all possible precautions to avoid harming civilians.

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