Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon, causing at least nine civilian injuries. A Washington Post analysis of shell fragments found in the small village of Dheira revealed remnants of three 155-millimeter artillery rounds. Residents reported the destruction of at least four homes due to these rounds, known for ejecting felt wedges saturated with white phosphorous. The substance burns at high temperatures, producing billowing smoke that can cause severe harm, potentially leading to fatal burns and respiratory damage.

The injuries resulting from the attack led to the hospitalization of at least three individuals, with one hospitalized for several days. The lot production codes on the shells matched the nomenclature used by the U.S. military, indicating their origin from ammunition depots in Louisiana and Arkansas in 1989 and 1992. The light green color and markings, such as “WP” printed on one of the remnants, were consistent with white phosphorous rounds, according to arms experts.

The M825 smoke rounds, fired from 155mm howitzers, have legitimate battlefield uses, including signaling friendly troops, marking targets, and producing white smoke for concealing soldiers from enemy forces. However, their deployment near civilian areas raises concerns, as their use is not intended for incendiary purposes.

These munitions are part of the billions of dollars in U.S. military arms provided to Israel annually, contributing to its ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The tensions along Lebanon’s southern border between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, escalated from sporadic exchanges to near-daily confrontations since October 7.

Israeli forces reportedly continued shelling Dheira with white phosphorus munitions for hours, leading residents to refer to the incident as the “black night.” The attack trapped people in their homes until they could escape the next morning, prompting speculation that the phosphorus was used to displace residents and clear the way for future military activities.

The Israel Defense Forces stated that the white phosphorous shells were launched to create smokescreens, not for targeting or causing fires. They asserted that their use complied with and exceeded the requirements of international law. The IDF claimed to have safer alternatives, such as M150 artillery rounds, which produce screening smoke without using white phosphorous.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International verified the U.S. origin of the shells, emphasizing the importance of tracking the behavior of allies receiving U.S. assistance to ensure compliance with U.S. and humanitarian law. While white phosphorus use is permitted for legitimate military operations, its misuse, especially around civilians, can violate laws of armed conflict. Rights groups have urged restrictions on its use to prevent harm to civilian populations.

Tirana Hassan, the executive director of Human Rights Watch, expressed concern over the use of U.S.-produced white phosphorus by Israel in south Lebanon. She called for U.S. officials, specifically Congress, to reassess military aid to Israel based on reports of white phosphorus use. The Biden administration, while expressing concern about the incident, clarified that real-time assessments of Israel’s adherence to the laws of war were not currently conducted.

As the Israeli military’s ground invasion and aerial bombardment continue in Gaza, a catastrophic humanitarian crisis is unfolding, with an estimated 1.9 million Palestinians displaced into shrinking “humanitarian zones.” Among the many facing the brunt of this crisis is twelve-year-old Do’a Atef, who spends her days begging for food and gathering firewood in a refugee camp outside Rafah, southern Gaza.

Do’a, along with her parents and seven siblings, was displaced from her home in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Sleeping in tents, the family faces a severe shortage of essential supplies, including clean water, diapers for the baby, and milk. The dire living conditions have forced them to drink dirty water, and the scarcity of resources has left the children in distress.

This plight reflects the broader reality for many in Gaza, where lines for clean water can last for hours, supermarkets are empty, and people resort to collecting rainwater in a semi-arid environment. The price of essential items, such as a 25-kilogram sack of flour, has skyrocketed, making access to basic necessities increasingly difficult.

The ongoing Israeli offensive has led to a scarcity of aid, exacerbating struggles over water and raising the risk of infection and death. Aid agencies report children and families roaming the streets, unable to find food, while some resort to rationing water, consuming as little as a cup a day. The intensity of hostilities has hindered aid distribution, with only a fraction of the required humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.

International humanitarian groups, including Oxfam and Save the Children, are sounding alarm bells, describing the situation as “apocalyptic” and “not survivable.” The lack of water and hygiene has led to the aggravation of diseases, including diarrhea, vomiting, and skin allergies, putting lives at immediate risk.

Despite calls for action and urgent intervention, the delivery of aid remains constrained by the ongoing conflict. The UN Secretary-General has warned of a high risk of a collapse in the humanitarian support system, anticipating a complete breakdown of public order. As desperation grows, locals have resorted to rushing aid trucks, further complicating relief efforts.

With limited aid entering the strip and increasing obstacles to distribution, the crisis in Gaza is reaching unprecedented levels, prompting humanitarian agencies to categorize the actions, including the use of starvation as a war weapon, as potential war crimes. The international community faces a race against time to address the immediate needs of the population and mitigate the looming catastrophe.