The United Nations has released images of what it believes are white phosphorus munitions raining down on one of its compounds during Israel’s war on Gaza.
The pictures, broadcast by Al Jazeera on Thursday, show what appears to be flame-generating munitons, thought to be white phosphorus “wedges” falling into a UN compound in Gaza.
Israel has said it will investigate the issue, but has not publicly acknowledged using the controversial chemical.
Al Jazeera has learnt that a total of 53 installations used by the United Nations Relief and Works agency, Unrwa, were damaged or destroyed during Israel’s Gaza campaign including 37 schools - six of which are being used as emergency shelters - six health centres, and two warehouses.
White phosphorus - a high-incendiary substance that burns brightly and for long periods on contact with the air - is often used to produce smoke screens.
But it can also be used as a weapon producing extreme burns when it makes contact with human skin.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported a brigade of paratroop reservists fired about 20 white phosphorus shells into the built-up area of Beit Lahiya on January 17.
Israeli shells landed in a UN-run compound where hundreds of people were sheltering, killing two Palestinian children and inflicting severe burns on another 14.
Amnesty International, the London-based rights group, has accused Israel of war crimes over its use of the munitions in heavily populated areas.
Children killed
International law forbids white phosphorus use against military targets within areas where civilians are concentrated, except when the targets are clearly separated and “all feasible precautions” are taken to avoid casualties among non-combatants.