PA daily: UN official says Israel used “white gas” on civilians in Gaza
Headline: “ Senior international official: Israel is using white gas and sarin in Gaza”
“Representative of the Office of the [UN] High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Middle East and Chairman of the UN International Human Rights Commission Haitham Abu Saeed said yesterday, Friday [July 18, 2014], that when Israel began its military ground operation on Gaza on Thursday, it used white gas, which severely injured dozens of Palestinian civilians. In a report he had prepared… Abu Saeed explained that this weapon activates when the phosphorous it contains comes in contact with oxygen, and that white phosphorous is a wax-like, yellowish-white transparent material with a smell similar to garlic… The international official added: ‘In addition, the reports now being investigated note that Sarin gas was used in the ongoing battles, in addition to white gas… This is a kind of industrial nerve gas, similar to materials used for exterminating insects…’ He added that if its use is proven, Israel will have once again broken all international rules and principles.”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
Notes: This article was published during the 2014 Gaza War as Hamas was firing thousands of rockets at Israel and as Israel was responding with Operation Protective Edge, which aimed at destroying Hamas' terror infrastructure and ability to launch rockets at Israel.
There have been no credible reports of Israel using white phosphorus or biological or chemical weapons in the 2014 Gaza war. Israel announced in 2013 that it was discontinuing the use of white phosphorus smoke shells. Israeli Brigadier-General Roy Riftin confirmed to Reuters on Aug. 12, 2014 that Israel was not using white phosphorus in Operation Protective Edge and reiterated that Israel's use of white phosphorus smoke shells in the 2008-2009 Gaza War was in line with international law.
“Representative of the Office of the [UN] High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Middle East and Chairman of the UN International Human Rights Commission Haitham Abu Saeed said yesterday, Friday [July 18, 2014], that when Israel began its military ground operation on Gaza on Thursday, it used white gas, which severely injured dozens of Palestinian civilians. In a report he had prepared… Abu Saeed explained that this weapon activates when the phosphorous it contains comes in contact with oxygen, and that white phosphorous is a wax-like, yellowish-white transparent material with a smell similar to garlic… The international official added: ‘In addition, the reports now being investigated note that Sarin gas was used in the ongoing battles, in addition to white gas… This is a kind of industrial nerve gas, similar to materials used for exterminating insects…’ He added that if its use is proven, Israel will have once again broken all international rules and principles.”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
Notes: This article was published during the 2014 Gaza War as Hamas was firing thousands of rockets at Israel and as Israel was responding with Operation Protective Edge, which aimed at destroying Hamas' terror infrastructure and ability to launch rockets at Israel.
There have been no credible reports of Israel using white phosphorus or biological or chemical weapons in the 2014 Gaza war. Israel announced in 2013 that it was discontinuing the use of white phosphorus smoke shells. Israeli Brigadier-General Roy Riftin confirmed to Reuters on Aug. 12, 2014 that Israel was not using white phosphorus in Operation Protective Edge and reiterated that Israel's use of white phosphorus smoke shells in the 2008-2009 Gaza War was in line with international law.