Phosphorous rocket found in Eshkol
Photo courtesy of the Eshkol Regional Council
Israel: Hamas fired phosphorous to harm peace
Letter sent to UN chief asks him to condemn rocket attacks that 'deliberately targeted civilians in south'
WASHINGTON – Israel's new ambassador to the UN, Meron Reuben, sent a letter of complaint to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon regarding the white phosphorous rockets launched from Gaza Wednesday. The letter was also sent to the current Security Council President Ertuğrul Apakan.
"I write to you yet again regarding another series of serious incidents in southern Israel as a result of ongoing attacks from the Gaza Strip that is controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization," the letter says.
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"Since Monday, 13 September 2010, Hamas terrorists launched 14 rockets and mortars from in the Gaza Strip that sought to terrorize the civilian populations in Ashkelon, as well as the Eshkol region to the south."
The ambassador added that "some of these attacks that deliberately targeted civilians contained white phosphorous, a fact publicly acknowledged by Palestinian statements in the media".
In the letter, Reuben accuses Hamas of firing the rockets in order to disrupt the direct peace talks with the Palestinians. "In a concerted effort to derail peace talks, Hamas and other radical organizations have engaged in this deadly violence," it says.
"Such terrorism coupled with Hamas’ total rejection of any negotiated settlement reinforces Israel’s decision to exercise its right of self-defense against Hamas and all other groups that threaten and endanger Israeli citizens."
Reuben concludes by asking the UN to condemn the rocket attacks from Gaza.
During Operation Cast Lead Israel was severely criticized for using phosphorous in its tank shells. However, Israel claims that the phosphorous was used in keeping with international law, which allows its use in unpopulated areas.
