JERUSALEM (JTA) — The head of a regional council in southern Israel filed a complaint with the United Nations after mortar shells fired from Gaza were found to contain the banned substance white phosphorous.
Two mortars that landed in the Eshkol Regional Council, with a population of 13,000, contained white phosphorous, which is banned by international law for use in populated areas. Phosphorus can cause severe burns and other injuries.
It reportedly was the fourth time that white phosphorus has been found on mortars fired from Gaza on Israel.
The complaint by Chaim Jelin was filed with U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Jelin wrote, "The Israel Defense Forces, charged with protecting the residents of the State of Israel, are criticized and judged due to their being the military of a U.N. member state. In contrast, Hamas, the ‘neighborhood bully,’ is not subject to international laws, and feels free to use illegal weaponry against an innocent civilian population — without being judged or criticized by any international body. I call upon you to put an end to this hypocrisy!"
