and the United States to investigate the attacks . Israel should prosecute those who carried them out and the U.S. government , which supplied Israel , should look into the issue . HRW said white phosphorous was a chemical substance dispersed in artillery shells , bombs and rockets , used primarily to obscure military operations . '' -LRB- While -RRB- it is not considered a chemical weapon and is not banned per se , it ignites and burns on contact with oxygen and creates a smokescreen at night or during the day to mask the visual movement of troops . `` It also interferes with infra-red optics and weapon-tracking systems , thus protecting military forces from guided weapons such as anti-tank missiles . When WP comes into contact with people or objects , though , it creates an intense and persistent burn . It can also be used as a weapon against military targets , '' the group said . In response , the Israeli military said `` smoke shells are not an incendiary weapon '' and defended its actions . The Israel Defense Forces said it was close to completing its probe into `` the use of ammunition containing
JERUSALEM -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Israeli military 's firing of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas during the Gaza offensive `` was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes , '' Human Rights Watch -LRB- HRW -RRB- said in a report on Wednesday . Human Rights Watch says Israel used white phosphorus shells over populated areas in Gaza . `` In Gaza , the Israeli military did n't just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops , '' said Fred Abrahams , a HRW senior emergencies researcher . `` It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas , even when its troops were n't in the area and safer smoke shells were available . As a result , civilians needlessly suffered and died . '' Entitled `` Rain of Fire : Israel 's Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza , '' the 71-page report provides `` witness accounts '' and `` presents ballistics evidence , photographs , and satellite imagery , as well as documents from the Israeli military and government . '' HRW is an independent international organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights . The group urged Israel