White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby recently announced that the Biden administration is “certainly concerned” about recent reports that Israel used white phosphorus munitions supplied by the United States in an attack in Lebanon. Kirby said that the administration will be asking questions to learn more about the situation.
This news has sparked international condemnation and has raised questions about the US’s role in the region. Many experts are arguing that the Biden administration should use its influence and power to pressure Israel to end its use of munitions and to work towards a peaceful end to the conflict in the region.
The US has long been a major ally of Israel, providing it with military aid and diplomatic support. However, many are now questioning the US’s role in the region and its responsibility for the actions of its ally.
White phosphorus munitions are highly controversial weapons that have been widely condemned by the international community. They are designed to create a smokescreen to obscure the battlefield, and can cause severe burns and tissue damage to those exposed. International humanitarian law states that white phosphorus munitions should only be used as a smokescreen in areas where there are no civilians present, and their use in populated areas is strictly prohibited.
The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, recently expressed her deep concern over the reports. “The use of white phosphorus munitions in such circumstances would constitute a breach of international humanitarian law,” she said.
The US has been criticized for providing Israel with white phosphorus munitions. In 2017, the US State Department approved a sale of white phosphorus munitions to Israel worth more than $70 million.
Human rights groups have urged the US to take action in response to the reports. They argue that the US should suspend its military aid to Israel and pressure it to stop using white phosphorus munitions in populated areas.
The Biden administration has made it clear that it is committed to promoting peace and security in the region. President Biden has already taken steps to re-engage with the Palestinians and to restore US aid to the region. He has also reaffirmed America’s commitment to the two-state solution.
The US has a responsibility to use its influence and power to pressure Israel to end its use of white phosphorus munitions and to work towards a peaceful end to the conflict in the region. The Biden administration should make it clear that it will not tolerate the use of such weapons and will take action if Israel does not end its use of them.
The Biden administration must take a strong stance in order to demonstrate its commitment to promoting peace and security in the region. White phosphorus munitions are a cruel and inhumane weapon and their use must be stopped. The US must use its diplomatic and economic leverage to pressure Israel to end its use of these weapons.
Only with strong leadership and determined action can the US bring about a lasting peace in the region. The Biden administration must act now to ensure that white phosphorus munitions are not used in populated areas and that the people of the region can live in peace.
