NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (HRNW) — Human Rights Watch and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School have called for stronger international law regulating white phosphorus munitions, warning of their devastating consequences for civilians.
In a report released September 9, the organizations documented 23 verified incidents of Israeli use of white phosphorus in southern Lebanon between March and May 2026 and urged governments to address the humanitarian dangers posed by the weapons.
The 45-page report, “Uncontrolled Burn: The Inhumane Effects of White Phosphorus Munitions and the Need for Stronger Law,” examines the severe burns and long-term physical, psychological and socioeconomic harm that white phosphorus can cause.
Human Rights Watch said countries should raise the issue during the UN General Assembly’s disarmament meeting in New York in October and at the Convention on Conventional Weapons Review Conference scheduled for November in Geneva.
The organizations argue that existing international rules contain significant legal gaps because white phosphorus is generally designed for purposes such as smoke-screening or illumination, even though it can produce severe incendiary effects.
Human Rights Watch is calling for stronger international restrictions and says a comprehensive prohibition on the production, transfer and use of white phosphorus would provide the greatest humanitarian protection.
The campaign adds to wider international efforts to strengthen protections for civilians from weapons that cause indiscriminate or exceptionally severe harm.
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Disclaimer:
This article is based on information published by Human Rights Watch and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School. The allegations and assessments described are attributed to the cited organizations. HRNW presents the report for public-interest journalism and human-rights awareness.
