Israel using flechette shells in Gaza

Israel using flechette shells in Gaza

Palestinian human rights group accuses Israel military of using shells that spray out thousand of tiny and potentially lethal darts
Flechette shell darts
An image provided by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights of darts from a flechette shell it says the Israeli military fired in Gaza last week.

The Israeli military is using flechette shells, which spray out thousands of tiny and potentially lethal metal darts, in its military operation in Gaza.

Six flechette shells were fired towards the village of Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis, on 17 July, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Nahla Khalil Najjar, 37, suffered injuries to her chest, it said. PCHR provided a picture of flechettes taken by a fieldworker last week.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) did not deny using the shells in the conflict. "As a rule, the IDF only employs weapons that have been determined lawful under international law, and in a manner which fully conforms with the laws of armed conflict," a spokesperson said in response to a request for specific comment on the deployment of flechettes.

B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organisation, describes a flechette shell as "an anti-personnel weapon that is generally fired from a tank. The shell explodes in the air and releases thousands of metal darts 37.5mm in length, which disperse in a conical arch 300 metres long and about 90 metres wide".

The munitions are not prohibited under international humanitarian law, but according to B'Tselem, "other rules of humanitarian law render their use in the Gaza Strip illegal. One of the most fundamental principles is the obligation to distinguish between those who are involved and those who are not involved in the fighting, and to avoid to the extent possible injury to those who are not involved. Deriving from this principle is the prohibition of the use of an imprecise weapon which is likely to result in civilian injuries."

Flechette shell darts embedded in a wall in Gaza
A image taken in 2009 of darts from a flechette shell embedded in a wall in Gaza. Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

The legality of flechette munitions was upheld by the Israeli supreme court in 2002, and according to an Israeli military source, they are particularly effective against enemy fighters operating in areas covered by vegetation.

The source said a number of armies around the world deploy flechette shells, and that they were intended solely for use against legitimate military targets in accordance with international law.

The IDF has deployed flechette shells in Gaza and Lebanon before. B'Tselem has documented the deaths of nine Palestinians in Gaza from flechettes in 2001 and 2002. Flechettes have also killed and wounded dozens of civilians, including women and children, in conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Israeli military deployed artillery shells containing white phosphorous in densely populated areas of Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in 2008 and 2009, causing scores of deaths and extensive burns. It initially issued a categorical denial of reports of the use of white phosphorous, but later admitted it, saying the weapon was only used to create smokescreens.

Human Rights Watch said its use of the munitions in Operation Cast Lead was indiscriminate and evidence of war crimes.

In response to a legal challenge, the IDF said last year it would "avoid the use in built-up areas of artillery shells containing white phosphorus, with two narrow exceptions." The exceptions were not disclosed.

Views: 150

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Ragnarok on July 20, 2014 at 7:59pm

Never seen or heard about flechettes before. But what a freaking sicko that invented it. 

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted blog posts
18 hours ago
Snakedaddy posted a photo
yesterday
Snakedaddy commented on Snakedaddy's album
Thumbnail

a soon shit

"a soon shit"
yesterday
Snakedaddy posted a photo
yesterday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"Thanks for reply Burbia. Language wise there appears to be Hungarian sub branch component to it…"
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

Passing Strange- Keys/ It's Alright

I do not own the rights to this video... But it is Helluva awesome.
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Through Her Disguise

I know that a lot of times in my articles it might seem that I'm down on women a lot from a man's…See More
Tuesday
Burbia posted a video

Soros Will Never Recover..Elon AIR The whole Thing

The view on TRUMP protests as people are Democrats..CLOWN SHOW: Cory “Spartacus” Booker went on The View to take a victory lap for joining the Soros-funded a...
Tuesday
Burbia replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"If this was a universal language, it might be regarded as a time going back before the Tower of…"
Tuesday
Burbia commented on Sandy's photo
Thumbnail

FB_IMG_1744012893167

"I was waiting for a trail of death to meet between Vancouver Canada and San Francisco California…"
Tuesday
Twin City Security Fort Worth updated their profile
Monday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Monday
Sandy posted a photo
Monday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
" I think first evidence of the lost empires Language (tartarian) needs to be discovered or at…"
Sunday
cheeki kea posted a discussion
Sunday
Doc Vega's 6 blog posts were featured
Sunday
tjdavis posted a photo
Sunday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Sunday
tjdavis posted a video

Riefenstahl - Official Trailer

A captivating insight into the private estate of Leni Riefenstahl, who became world-famous with her Nazi propaganda film "Triumph of the Will" but kept denyi...
Sunday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted