White Phosphorus Lies?

"U.N. Warns of Refugee Crisis in Gaza Strip"
A5, Tuesday 1/13/09
By Taghreed El-Khodary and Sabrina Tavernise

Another reason for Gazans’ flight? “Israeli soldiers are firing rounds of a noxious substance that burns the skin and makes it hard to breathe.”

This is at least according to Palestinians interviewed on Monday. A Human Rights Watch military analyst identified a “piece of metal casing with an identifying number” as white phosphorus.

Though military use of the substance may be consistent with international law, according to an Israeli major, it is dangerous. A 10 year old Gazan boy apparently “lost his eyesight and some skin on his face when, his mother said, a fiery substance clung to him.” If true – and why should anyone doubt the veracity here? – one hopes for a full recovery by the boy.

Unfortunately, white phosphorous may also bring brain or heart damage, especially if within close proximity to a reporter. A Gazan mother who is reported to have “experienced it too,” said “she had no affection for Hamas, but her sufferings were changing that. ‘Do you think I’m against them firing rockets now?’ she asked, referring to Hamas. ‘No. I was against it before. Not anymore.”

Yet another Israeli military adventure ultimately rendered counter-productive as a Gazan population has been more radicalized – not by Hamas – but by Israel.

One wonders if this Gazan mother is just ignorant, a bad mother, or saying what Taghreed El-Khodary wants to hear. She may be ignorant if she doesn’t realize that more rockets into Israel could very likely bring more white phosphorus for her and her children. She may be a bad mother if she doesn’t care. Either way, she gave Taghreed El-Khodary an ideal ending to her report.