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March 26, 2009

HRW Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Phosphorus Attacks
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In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Human Rights Watch has accused
Israel of unlawfully attacking densely populated civilian areas with
white phosphorus during its three-week attack on Gaza. In a new report,
Human Rights Watch says the white phosphorus killed at least twelve
Palestinian civilians and destroyed millions of dollars worth of
property. Bill Van Esveld of Human Rights Watch says the phosphorus use
likely amounts to a war crime.

Bill Van Esveld: “It looks like that evidence is consistent with war
crimes being committed. A war crime is when there is either intent or
recklessness with regard to targeting civilians or civilian
institutions. What we’ve got here is a lot of different civilian
institutions being burned down, a lot of different civilians being
injured, and it continued to happen for no apparent justification.
That’s why we’re concerned.”



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