Phosphorus is never found as a free element in nature on Earth. White phosphorus (P4) exists as individual molecules made up of four atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement, resulting in very high ring strain and instability. It contains 6 single bonds.
White phosphorus is a white, waxy transparent solid. This allotrope is thermodynamically unstable at normal condition and will gradually change to red phosphorus. This transformation, which is accelerated by light and heat, makes white phosphorus almost always contain some red phosphorus and therefore appear yellow. For this reason, it is also called yellow phosphorus. It glows greenish in the dark (when exposed to oxygen), is highly flammable and pyrophoric (self-igniting) upon contact with air.
Below is a test of white phosphorus by the USA (click here)
That is what white phosphorus looks like when deployed. It just does.
Human Rights Watch says pictures like this point to white phosphorus use, but Israel denies this.
Medics in Gaza say latest casualties include at least 60 people affected by suspected phosphorus shells fired illegally near civilian areas. (click here - video)
It is a 'justified' war, so why do something so unjust when the results of the Israeli efforts have succeeded? This attack doesn't make sense. It is somewhat zealous and foolish.
Israel is achieving a defeat of Hamas for the Palestinian Authority to make life better in Gaza. This possible deployment of white phosphorus makes no sense, strategically or otherwise. Making enemies of the people of Gaza will only make 'peace' more difficult.
Defeating Hamas is totally different than victimizing the Palestinians that remember the way in which the defeat was achieved.
In Israel, a consensus that Gaza war is a just one (click here)
By Ethan Bronner
Published: January 13, 2009
...But voices of dissent in this country have been rare. And while tens of thousands have poured into the streets of world capitals demonstrating against the Israeli military operation, antiwar rallies here have struggled to draw 1,000 participants. The Peace Now organization has received many messages from supporters telling it to stay out of the streets on this one....
