A recent international report has documented 23 instances of Israel using white phosphorus munitions in South Lebanon from March to May 2026.
The 45-page report, released by Human Rights Watch and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, is titled "Unchecked Fire: The Inhumane Effects of White Phosphorus Munitions and the Need for Stronger Law."
According to the report, confirmation of these incidents was secured within the indicated time frame.
The findings highlight that white phosphorus ignites upon exposure to oxygen, potentially causing long-lasting burns and physical, psychological, social, and economic harm.
Bonnie Docherty, Senior Weapons Researcher at Human Rights Watch and Lecturer at the International Human Rights Clinic, urged states to condemn the continued use of such munitions and advocate for further international dialogue.
The report notes that there is currently no specific international treaty regulating the separate use of white phosphorus munitions.
It mentions that the 1980 Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons governs incendiary weapons but does not consider white phosphorus when primarily designed for other purposes, such as obscuring military operations or illumination.
The report also warns that white phosphorus residue can reignite upon contact with oxygen in wounds.
It cites the use of white phosphorus munitions in several conflicts since 2000, including in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
Human Rights Watch and Harvard's clinic are calling for stricter international rules governing the use of white phosphorus munitions.