Conservative MP’s Veiled Warning To Israel: White Phosphorus Use Is A ‘War Crime’
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Alicia Kearns made a veiled warning to Israel that use of white phosphorus was a “war crime” and explained that Israel has a duty “under international humanitarian law” to end its siege on Gaza.
The Conservative politician’s tweet stated that the use of white phosphorus in “densely populated civilian areas” would constitute a war crime.
Describing its horrific effects, Kearns described how the weapon “rains down fire” and is hard to extinguish. It “sticks to skin and burns deep,” she wrote, “even through human bone and metal.”
Following the statement reports on Friday by Al Jazeera and the Washington Post confirmed its use by Israeli military. Human Rights Watch says it verified videos taken in Gaza on October 10 and 11, 2023 showing artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Just hours before her tweet, Kearns appeared on LBC, speaking to veteran journalist Andrew Marr, and touched upon the pressing issue of utilities in Gaza.
When questioned by Marr on whether Israel should restore water and electricity to Gaza, Kearns responded, “I believe they have to because they have a duty under international law to make sure that people can access medical aid and support.”
Highlighting complications at the Raffah crossing, she continued: “The Egyptians can’t open the Raffah crossing again… because it was bombed by Israel.” For any humanitarian effort to be successful, she explained, there needs to be “assurances from Israel that no humanitarian convoy will be bombed.”
The UK, according to Kearns, has a key role to play: “This is something the UK can do. We can work with our Israeli partners… let’s get the Raffah crossing open because that’s also how we get British nationals out who are stuck in Gaza.”
Furthermore, Kearns stressed Israel’s unique position in this situation: “But no one else can switch back on water apart from the Israelis… because they control the airspace of Gaza, they control the coastal access and they have blockaded it. I believe that they have that duty.”
