Israel used White Phosphorus bomb in Israel

Subject :IR

Section: International conventions

Context: Israel used White Phosphorus bomb in Israel

More about the news:

The Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using white phosphorus bombs in the densely populated Gaza Strip in response to a recent Hamas attack.
Israel’s Defense Forces denied using these munitions, but past instances indicate otherwise.
White phosphorus use in civilian areas violates international law, although Israel contends it’s necessary for troop protection from rocket attacks.

What is White Phosphorus:

White phosphorus munitions are weapons that use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus.
White phosphorus is pyrophoric i.e it is ignited by contact with air, burns fiercely, and can ignite cloth, fuel, ammunition, and other combustibles.Apart from this, it is also used in smoke, illumination, and burning elements of tracer ammunition.
In addition to its offensive capabilities, white phosphorus is a highly efficient smoke-producing agent, reacting with air to produce an immediate blanket of phosphorus pentoxide vapour.
In addition to direct injuries caused by fragments of their casings, white phosphorus munitions can cause injuries in two main ways: burn injuries and vapour inhalation.

Is White Phosphorus an incendiary or chemical weapon:

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is an intergovernmental organization and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, has not listed White Phosphorous in any of the three Schedules of Chemical Weapons.
However, the United Nations considers it as an incendiary chemical.
In 1972, United Nations labeled incendiary weapons, including white phosphorus, as instruments causing horrific and indiscriminate harm, leading to resolutions condemning their use.
The 1980 international agreement established Protocol III, restricting the use of incendiary weapons that cause excessive harm to civilians and their property.

What is the general regulations of Protocol III on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons:

Protocol III specifically mentions it is not applicable on munitions that are illuminants, tracers, smoke or signalling systems thus making it confusing for many if the use of White Phosphorus can be considered a war crime or not.
Protocol III specifically does not ban the use of White Phosphorous in military action. It only restricts its use near the civilian population.

What is Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW):

It is an international organization established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, 1997 to implement and enforce the terms of the non-proliferation treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling or transfer of chemical weapons by signatory states.
The headquarter of OPCW is in the Hague, Netherlands
By the 2001 Relationship Agreement between the OPCW and the United Nations, the OPCW reports on its inspections and other activities to the UN through the office of the Secretary-General.
The OPCW is authorized to perform inspections to verify that signatory states are complying with the convention.
The organization was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”.