Lebanon Files UN Complaint, Accusing Israel of White Phosphorus Attacks on Olive Trees
Lebanon has lodged a complaint with the United Nations, accusing Israel of carrying out white phosphorus attacks on olive trees. The Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, asserted that the use of this incendiary weapon had resulted in the burning of 40,000 olive trees. Israel has previously denied these allegations, but rights groups and Lebanese officials have persistently accused the country of deploying white phosphorus.
Minister Bou Habib instructed the Lebanese mission to the UN to submit a complaint to the Security Council, condemning Israel’s repeated use of white phosphorus in attacks on Lebanon. He also accused Israel of intentionally setting fire to Lebanese groves and forests.
Tensions have surged in Lebanon’s southern border since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. This has prompted tit-for-tat exchanges between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. At least 62 people have been killed in these skirmishes, with Hezbollah combatants comprising the majority of the casualties. However, four civilians, including a Reuters journalist, have also lost their lives. Israel reported eight fatalities, including both soldiers and civilians.
Aside from casualties, Israeli attacks have caused olive groves and greenery to go up in flames in the border area. As of now, one fire is still burning in southern Lebanon. Agriculture Minister Abbas Al Hajj Hassan stated that Israeli white phosphorus strikes had destroyed 40,000 olive trees in the south of the country. A preliminary survey by his ministry indicated that 128 fires resulted from the Israeli enemy’s phosphorus bombing of our regions.
White phosphorus is a substance that ignites upon contact with the air. It is primarily used to create smokescreens, illuminate battlefields, or cause buildings to burn. The 1983 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons imposes restrictions on incendiary weapons such as white phosphorus, prohibiting their use against civilians and non-military targets, as well as their deployment against military targets in proximity to civilians. However, the convention does not ban their deployment for smokescreening or battlefield illumination.
On Tuesday, Amnesty International released an investigation presenting evidence of Israel’s unlawful use of white phosphorus in south Lebanon between October 10 and 16. The organization highlighted an attack on the town of Dhayra on October 16, which they believe constitutes a war crime due to its indiscriminate nature, resulting in injuries to at least nine civilians. Similarly, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of employing white phosphorus in Gaza and Lebanon earlier this month, a claim that Israel refuted.
The accusation of white phosphorus attacks on olive trees marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon. With Lebanon filing a complaint against Israel at the UN, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to these allegations.
