Report: Israeli military disciplines 2 officers over use of white phosphorus during Gaza war
By APMonday, February 1, 2010
Israelis disciplined in Gaza white phosphorus use
JERUSALEM — An Israeli newspaper says the military has disciplined two high-ranking officers for approving the use of white phosphorus shells at the end of the Gaza war last year.
Haaretz says a military probe concluded the Gaza division commander and a brigade commander endangered human life by firing the highly incendiary munitions toward a compound run by a U.N. aid agency.
It was not immediately clear what the disciplinary action entailed. The military spokesman’s office had no immediate comment on Monday.
It was not the only instance in which white phosphorus was used in Gaza.
Haaretz says the allegations were included in the government’s response last week to a U.N. report accusing both Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers of war crimes during the offensive.
