Getting To Know Israel's White Fosphor Bombs, Weapons That Trigger Death Just Because Of Smoke

White phosphorus bomb smoke (hrw.org)

YOGYAKARTA Not many people know white phosphorus bombs, one of the weapons used by the Israeli military to attack Palestinians. The bomb was used to launch in the Karama neighborhood, North Gaza to hit Palestinian society.

Please note that the Karama area is a densely populated area. The use of white phosphorus bombs is certainly at great risk of triggering large numbers of victims. So what exactly is the white phosphorus bomb?

As the name implies, phosphorus bombs are weapons containing white phosphorus. These materials are very dangerous for humans and even animals.

On the website of the World Health Organization (WHO), white phosphorus itself is described as a solid substance for white, yellow, and clear candles. This phosphorus has a aroma like the aroma of garlic. Phosphorini is used as an ingredient for making computer chips, rat poison, and fireworks.

In addition to daily needs, white phosphorus is also used to make military weapons. This substance is one of the components of grenade manufacturing and artillery shells that produce light that produces smoke and combustion.

The white phosphorus is indeed very toxic. This substance can burn at temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees above room temperature as a form of reaction to oxygen.

On the webmd page, it is also stated that the white phosphorus bomb is an incendiary weapon with destructive explosive capability because it is capable of emitting and spreading fires up to hundreds of squares of meters. After that, the fire will slowly be extinguished as the burned material or oxygen continues to decrease.

When burned in an open space, a white phosphorus bomb will produce flames and thick white smoke. This smoke can also irritate human or animal organs. If inhaled or swallowed, the phosphorus will trigger death.

If exposed to the skin, white phosphorus can cause very painful burns such as burns of degree two to three. The burns that will be caused from this bomb will be yellow with the smell of garlic. In a more severe case, smoke will appear from open wounds caused by the phosphorus that continues to burn.

Not only that, the nature of white phosphorus that is easily dissolved in fat is also easily absorbed by the skin, triggering more serious damage to the organs of the body and other symptoms. Burns due to white phosphorus with a percentage of less than 10 percent can trigger death. This occurs due to damage to internal organs such as the kidneys, liver, and heart.

In the international military, there is already a ban on the use of this bomb because of the extensive destructive impact. Even the use of this bomb is included in war crimes. However, the use of phosphorus as a weapons of war is not explicitly prohibited.

Quoted from the Human Rights Watch website, the use of this weapon is not prohibited by international humanitarian law. However, international humanitarian habits require all countries to take precautions so that this bomb does not harm civilians.

In several other sources, it is also stated that white phosphorus is not categorized as a chemical weapon based on the Chemical Weapons Convention.

As is known, Israel attacked Palestinian territory using a white phosphorus bomb. This incident was also recorded in a verified Human Rights Watch video recorded on October 10 and 11, 2023 in Lebanon and Gaza.

In the video, it is shown that there were several explosions fired by artillery in the port area of Gaza City as well as two rural locations along the Lebanese-Gaza border.

In addition to knowing white phosphorus bombs, visit VOI.ID to get more interesting information.