this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2023
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The Israeli army fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus, an incendiary weapon, in military operations along Lebanon’s southern border between 10 and 16 October 2023.

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[–] BMatthew@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago (22 children)

And the US and UK give unconditional support.

[–] Afghaniscran@feddit.uk 29 points 1 year ago (12 children)

I'm ashamed of my country and it only grows for each day that passes.

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[–] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 39 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think it also depends on how it’s used. Like if it’s used to create a smokescreen or to light up a battle field, it’s not a war crime. If it’s used as an offensive weapon, especially in an area with civilians, it almost certainly is a war crime since, regardless of whether it’s a chemical weapon, there’s no real way to aim it at military targets without it raining down on civilians. At that point, it becomes a Geneva Conventions violation and every country has ratified the core of the Geneva Conventions.

[–] Silverseren@kbin.social 28 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Indeed. And per the above article,

One attack on the town of Dhayra on 16 October must be investigated as a war crime because it was an indiscriminate attack that injured at least nine civilians and damaged civilian objects, and was therefore unlawful

It does sounds like they just fired it at civilian locations to bolster their military actions.

[–] mwguy@infosec.pub 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

9 casualties does not scream indiscriminate. Additionally the other example has 48 Hezbolla members and 4 civilians listed as casualties which also doesn't scream indiscriminate.

[–] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Im sure those 9 people and their families don't agree.

[–] MycoBro@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sometimes, especially after a long day, a few beers, and a joint, I start to think about all the people dying in Ukrainian and Palestine. I spent a year in Iraq so it’s not hard to imagine what the physical sensation of being in one of those foxholes are hiding in one of the blown outbuildings(I can quite honestly even smell the dust and mold in the hair. Kind of taste it. I spent a lot of time in J-dam’ed buildings)but what I can’t fucking imagine is the feeling of hopelessness the Palestinians must feel. Or any realistic Ukrainian. My point is, there is absolutely no one for those 9 people’s family to turn to and that’s horrifying

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[–] BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 32 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well gosh what with Russia throwing white phosphorous at Ukraine and no consequence then with Israel also appearing to do so it's as if international law only applies to countries that aren't nuclear states

[–] mrmule@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Isreal has never acknowledged its nuclear forces, nor are they party to the NPT 🤷‍♂️

[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah but nobody's stupid enough to risk it. Even if there's no chance they have nukes, our (US) government is big enough, "Christian" enough, anti-Muslim enough, and bat-shit crazy violent enough to not want to FA&FO.

[–] GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Or international politics is a bit complicated.

[–] BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Well yeah, everything gets complicated when 'laws' come with unwritten provisos such that they don't have enforcement except when major powers want to enforce them so they effectively only apply to certain countries

Unfortunately, 'complicated' seems to provide unwarranted respectability when 'toothless' and 'dysfunctional' would suffice

[–] DarkGamer@kbin.social 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Israeli authorities denied that they used white phosphorus in their military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

Seems like they're lying. All of that taken together seems like pretty damning evidence that they do use white phosphorous shells.

White phosphorus is not considered a chemical weapon because it operates primarily by heat and flame rather than toxicity, making it an incendiary weapon. Its use is governed by Protocol III of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). Lebanon acceded to the protocol in 2017, but Israel has not.

Oh. So they're not bound by the treaty not to use it.

[–] Jaytreeman@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lebanon is. Israel didn't sign on

[–] Silverseren@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That certainly makes Lebanon look better than Israel on the subject.

[–] DoomBot5@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Even better since Lebanon isn't involved here. It's the terrorist organization Hezbollah that is. Since they're terrorists rather than a country, they're not signed on to this either.

[–] UrbonMaximus@feddit.uk 5 points 1 year ago

Hezbollah have 15 ministers in parliament and are literally in the caretaker government coalition.

[–] badhops@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (4 children)

yeah ... but if we place all of the brown people in a open air prison... cut off their water and electricity maybe a bomb or 10000... that will fix the problem

[–] DoomBot5@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

If you can't tell the difference between middle eastern locations, maybe you shouldn't be talking about it.

[–] Pancito@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The fuck you talking about? The article is about Lebanon. You don't even distinguish between countries because they are all the same to you? That's ignorant if not racist.

[–] orphiebaby@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Why the fuck do you have a net positive on upvotes vs. downvotes? Wow people here are racist assholes.

[–] FrankTheHealer@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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