Context:
As per Human Rights Watch, Israel fired white phosphorus bombs over Gaza and Lebanon during their conflict with Hamas.
White phosphorus:
- A waxy, yellowish-to-clear chemical with a pungent, garlic-like odour.
- It is not naturally found but is instead produced using phosphate rocks.
- A highly combustible substance that reacts with oxygen in the air.
- Effects –
- Cause severe burn injuries that are slow to heal
- Phosphorus pentoxide vapour causing suffocation
- It is used by military in form of various types of ammunition as an incendiary agent because it spontaneously catches fire in air when it comes into contact with oxygen.
- Applications – Used as a component in fertilisers, food additives and cleaning compounds.
- Previous Usage – Israel during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza (2008-2009), USA in city of Fallujah (Iraq), Russia in Donbas attacks etc.
White Phosphorus – An incendiary or chemical weapon?
- White phosphorus weapons are not banned, but their use in civilian areas is considered a war crime.
- Because it is considered an incendiary weapon under Protocol III of the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of Use of Certain Conventional Weapons.
- It has not been categorised as an incendiary or chemical weapon by international agencies.
- Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, has not listed it in any of the three Schedules of Chemical Weapons.
Source: Business Today
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
International agreement/set-up: Subject
1. Alma-Ata Declaration: Healthcare of the people
2. Hague Convention: Biological and chemical weapons
3. Talanoa Dialogue: Global climate change
4. Under2 Coalition: Child rights
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: (c)
