ISRAEL is guilty of using shells containing white phosphorus in south Lebanon, according to a damning new report published today by Human Rights Watch.

The New York-based group accused Israeli forces of firing the banned substance at residential areas in the village of Yohmor.

The attack happened hours after the Israeli military had warned residents of the village and dozens of others to evacuate.

Human Rights Watch said it couldn’t independently identify whether any residents remained in the area or whether anyone was harmed.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but it has previously claimed to use white phosphorus not to target civilians but to create a smoke screen.

Human rights campaigners point out that the use of white phosphorus in populated areas is illegal under international law. 

The white-hot chemical substance can set buildings on fire and burn human flesh down to the bone. Survivors are at risk of infections and organ or respiratory failure.

“The Israeli military’s unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians,” said Human Rights Watch Lebanon researcher Ramzi Kaiss.

According to the group and Amnesty International, during Israel’s last war with Hezbollah, the munition was used in southern Lebanon on numerous occasions while civilians were still present.