[News] White Phosphorus and its use in Gaza
Anti-Imperialist News
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Tue Jan 13 12:22:02 EST 2009
Special: White Phosphorus and its use in Gaza
http://www.imemc.org/article/58449
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Tuesday January 13, 2009 12:30
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by Dr. Mazen Qumssiya - for the Applied Research
Institute of Jerusalem Arij
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White Phosphorus (P4) is a waxy fat soluble
colorless or slightly yellow solid with a garlic
smell that is not naturally occurring but is
produced in the laboratory. It is highly
reactive with oxygen (ignites spontaneously upon
drying and exposure to air) producing compounds
like P4O6 (phosphorus pentoxide) and P4O10 which
upon contact with water becomes oxophosphoric
acids (aslternatively direct reaction with water
can lead to phosphoric acid HPO4 through some intermediate compounds)
Press TV Images of WP use in Gaza
Press TV Images of WP use in Gaza
These properties have give it both civilian and
military uses. Its civilian uses include
production of phosphoric acid and phosphate based
fertilizers. It is used by the military because
it interacts with oxygen producing fire and smoke
and can act both as a smokescreen, marking enemy
areas and also to terrorize enemy combatants to
leave fox holes and tunnels into more open areas
where standard ammunition can be used on them.
White phosphorous is a member of a class of
incendiary weapons that includes such things as
napalm and thermites but also functions in
producing smoke to confuse and destroy the
ability of enemy troops to function. When used
as an incendiary weapon it works directly against
personnel producing severe physical and
psychological impacts and also destroys equipment of targeted troops.
Military use and use in Iraq: According to
GlobalSecurity.org (a national security
information outlet in the US): White Phosphorus
(WP), known as Willy Pete, is used for signaling,
screening, and incendiary purposes. White
Phosphorus can be used to destroy the enemy's
equipment or to limit his vision. It is used
against vehicles, petroleum, oils and lubricants
(POL) and ammunition storage areas, and enemy
observers. WP can be used as an aid in target
location and navigation. It is usually dispersed
by explosive munitions. It can be fired with fuze
time to obtain an airburst. White phosphorus was
used most often during World War II in military
formulations for smoke screens, marker shells,
incendiaries, hand grenades, smoke markers,
colored flares, and tracer bullets.
(<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/wp.htm>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munition...p.htm)
The US used WP in its wars from Vietnam to Iraq
and has defended such use as
legitimate. Initially the US forces claimed that
they used WP just 'to illuminate enemy positions
at night, not [directed] at enemy fighters' but
and sent mixed signals about whether it considers
it an incendiary devise or not and whether
insurgents are targeted by the devise or it is
merely used as a spectacular light and smoke
devise
(<http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/November/20051201140216mvyelwarc0.787594.html>http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/Novembe....html
).
WP was used to 'flush' insurgents out to kill
them using other munitions: 'WP proved to be an
effective and versatile munition. We used it for
screening missions at two breeches and, later in
the fight, as a potent psychological weapon
against the insurgents in trench lines and spider
holes when we could not get effects on them with
HE (High Explosive) Rounds. We fired shake and
bake missions at the insurgents, using WP to
flush them out and HE to take them out.' (TF 2-2
IN FSE AAR: Indirect Fires in the Battle of
Fallujah, By Captain James T. Cobb, First
Lieutenant Christopher A. LaCour and Sergeant
First Class William H. Hight, Field Artillery,
March-April 2005, pp. 23-28). While initially
denying use of it as an incendiary device against
targetted personnel, the US Pentagon spokesman
later admitted to the BBC such use in Fallujah
(<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm).
The same spokesperson explained that 'One
technique is to fire a white phosphorus round
into the position because the combined effects of
the fire and smokeand in some case the terror
brought about by the explosion on the groundwill
drive them out of the holes so that you can kill
them with high explosives.'
(<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-forces-used-chemical-weapon-in-iraq-515551.html>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-for....html
)
WP use is legal for purposes such as illumination
and obscuring smoke, and the Chemical Weapons
Convention does not list WP in its schedules of
chemical weapons. Witnesses and analysis of the
battlefield in Falluja revealed to Italian
filmmakers significant effects on the civilian
population. (see documentary
<http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/en/video.asp>http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/en/video.asp
)
Health impact At one point WP was used in rat
poison and in fireworks but modern products do
not have it because of potential health
hazards. The US Center for Disease Control
states that it is reported to cause death an
injury when inhaled, ingested, or had contact
with the skin (whether after burns or without
burning)
<http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf>http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
listed white phosphorus as a Hazardous Air
Pollutant and requires spills of 1 pound or more
to be reported to the EPA (Center for Disease
Control report
<http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts103.html>http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts103.html)
White phosphorus burns can be lethal due to
absorption of WP from the burned surface which
may result in multi-organ failure (mainly liver
and kidneys), hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia,
and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities (ST
depression, QT elongation, microvoltage of QRS
and bradycardia) (Bowen TE, Whelan TJ Jr, Nelson
TG. 1971. Sudden death after phosphorus burns:
experimental observations of hypocalcemia,
hyperphosphatemia, and electrocardiographic
abnormalities following production of a standard
white phosphorus burn. Ann Surg 174:779-784.;
Eldad A. Simon GA. 1991. The phosphorus burn - a
preliminary comparative experimental study of
various forms of treatment. Burns 17:198-200.;
cited in CDC document
<http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf>http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf).
Patients who survive for more than a week usually
exhibit significant changes in fat and protein
metabolism (including fatty degeneration) and
severe jaundice (Blanke RV. 1970. Toxicology. In:
Tietz NW, ed. Fundamentals of clinical chemistry.
Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co, 833-889.). When
WP burns in the air in conditions of high oxygen,
it generates smoke with an average aerosol mass
concentration between 2,500 and 3,000 mg/m3, with
the major components being polyphosphates,
phosphine, and elemental phosphorus (Van Voris P,
Cataldo DA, Ligotke MW, et al. 1987. Evaluate and
characterize mechanisms controlling transport,
fate and effects of Army smokes in the aersol
wind tunnel. Pacific Northwest Laboratories,
Richland, Washington.). Acute (5-30 minute)
exposures to WP smoke caused deaths in
experimental rats, mice, guinea pigs, and goats
at concentrations of orthophosphoric acid and
phosphorus pentoxide well below those that occur
in military usage (Brown BJ, Affleck GE, Ferrand RL, et al.. 1980.
The acute effects of single exposures to white
phosphorus smoke in rats and guinea pigs. Report
No. ARCSL-TR-80013, AD-B051836L; White SA,
Armstrong GC. 1935. White phosphorus smoke: Its
irritating concentration for man and its toxicity
for small animals for one-hour exposures.
E.A.T.P. 190, Project A 5.2-l.). These authors
documented congestion, edema, and hemorrhages in
the lungs of effected animals.
WP substance is now known to cause what is known
as phossy jaws (a degenerative condition
affecting the soft tissue, bones, and teeth of
the oral cavity) which has resulted in deaths due
to secondary septicemias (Ward EF. 1928.
Phosphorus necrosis in the manufacture of
fireworks. Journal of Industrial Hygiene and
Toxicology 10:314-330.). There are scattered
studies on effects of WP and WP Smoke on renal,
circulatory, hepatic, and musculoskeletal systems
(see
<http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf>http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf
)
The third health effect is in the persistence of
particles of WP in the environment . These is
obviously more common in combat use of large
amounts in shells as compared to usual spills or
pollution from industrial production WP chunks
may be shielded from oxygen (hence burning)
either by falling into water that has little
oxygen content or simply as pieces of solids that
can linger in the environment for years without
reacting or as intermediary combustion products
(partial combustion) especially in soils or
environments with limited oxygen
content.
(<http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf>http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf).
Reports of usage in Gaza: The Los Angeles Times
reported January 12 that 20 homes burnt, one
women killed and several injured from the use of
WP in Gaza writing:One landed in my kitchen and
caused a fire,' said Zohair Mohammed abu Rejila,
35. 'I went to put it out, but another one landed
on Mayar, my baby daughter. It was like a block
of fire, a piece of plastic on fire. When I
knocked it off her, it exploded and out came this
heavy white smoke with a very bad smell.'
<http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-phosphorus12-2009jan12,0,2138761.story>http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg...story
Al-Jazeera TV reported on its use for several
days between December 29-January 9 and aired
footage of several civilian victims of white
phosphorus bombs showing characteristic
burns. One teenage girl, Jamila Al-Habash, had
both of her legs amputated and an interview with
Dr. Raed Al-'Areeny from Al-Shaifa Hospital
explained the need for amutation because of the
WP adherence to and reaction with soft tissues
penetrating even to the bones.
Footage released also show the characteristic
images of shelling in neighborhoods with
WP
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVY4NUKowzg>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVY4NUKowzg
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/20....html
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq-b_40IKfs>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq-b_40IKfs
On January 12, 2009, Human Rights Watch issued a
report demanding Israel stop using WP
(<http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/10/israel-stop-unlawful-use-white-phosphorus-gaza>http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/10/israel-stop-unlaw...-gaza)
Treatment
When burning particles of WP attach quickly
remove all clothing affected to prevent skin
contact. Use cold water to rinse and extinguish
any areas of skin or clothing effected. Rinising
with sodium bicarbonate solution helps neutralize
acids. Emove any visible chunks of WP using
appropriate tools. Clothing or material that has
WP should be discarded in water or allowed to
burn in a safe location. Burns should be covered
with moist saline-soaked dressing to prevent
inflammation. Some recommend use of 0.5-2.0%
copper sulphate pads but only for short period of
time because of copper toxicity.
Legal Issues
The use of WP against civilians was banned in the
1980 convention titled 'Convention on
Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of
Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed
to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have
Indiscriminate Effects' (entered into force in
December 1983 and is an annex to the Geneva
Conventions 1949). Israel signed the convention
22 March 1995 but stated its exclusion of a
number of provisions of the main treaty and has
not signed the relevant protocol III dealing with
incendiary weapons such as WP. The most notable
exclusion of the main text was Article 7 paragraph 4 which reads:
Article 7
Treaty relations upon entry into force of this
Convention: This Convention, and the annexed
Protocols by which a High Contracting Party is
bound, shall apply with respect to an armed
conflict against that High Contracting Party of
the type referred to in Article 1, paragraph 4,
of Additional Protocol 1 to the Geneva Convention
of 12 August 1949 for the Protection of War Victims:
(a) Where the High Contracting Party is also a
party to Additional Protocol 1 and an authority
referred to in Article 96, paragraph 3, of that
Protocol has under-taken to apply the Geneva
Conventions and Additional Protocol 1 in
accord-ance with Article 96, paragraph 3, of the
said Protocol, and undertakes to apply this
Convention and the relevant annexed Protocols in relation to that conflict; or
(b) Where the High Contracting Party is not a
party to Additional Protocol 1 and an authority
of the type referred to in subparagraph (a) above
accepts and applies the obligations of the Geneva
Conventions and of this Convention and the
relevant annexed Protocols in relation to that
conflict. Such an acceptance and application
shall have in relation to that conflict the following effects: *
(i) The Geneva Conventions and this Convention
and its relevant annexed Protocols are brought
into force for the parties to the conflict with immediate effect;
(ii) The said authority assumes the same rights
and obligations as those which have been assumed
by a High Contracting Party to the Geneva
Conven-tions, this Convention and its relevant annexed Protocols; and
(iii) The Geneva Conventions, this Convention
and its relevant annexed Protocols are equally
binding upon all parties to the conflict. The
High Contracting Party and the authority may also
agree to accept and apply the obligations of
Additional Protocol 1 to the Geneva Conventions
on a reciprocal basis. (Text from
<http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/ccwtreatytext.htm>http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/ccwtreatytext.htm,
Israel's exclusions in signing:
<http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/NORM/4F63DC0452DC95BEC1256402003FD28B?OpenDocument>http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/NORM/4F63DC0452DC95BEC12564...ument)
Protocol III of the convention sets out
prohibitions against use of incendiary weapons
such as WP (Israel did not sign the protocol).
Parts Protocol III relevantb to use of WP in Gaza
include these: Article 1: 'Incendiary weapon'
means any weapon or munition which is primarily
designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn
injury to persons through the action of flame,
heat, or combination thereof, produced by a
chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the
target. ... 'Concentration of civilians' means
any concentration of civilians, be it permanent
or temporary, such as in inhabited parts of
cities, or inhabited towns or villages, or as in
camps or columns of refugees or evacuees, or groups of nomads.
Article 2. It is prohibited in all circumstances
to make any military objective located within a
concentration of civilians the object of attack
by air-delivered incendiary weapons.'
(<http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/protocol3.html>http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/protocol3.html)
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