A video showing bright burning material falling from the sky is going viral to claim that it shows white phosphorus bombs being dropped by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip.
This comes after Human Rights Watch claimed that Israeli forces used white phosphorus in military operations in Lebanon and Gaza on 10 and 11 October 2023, respectively.
An archive of this post can be seen here.
(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)
How did we find out the truth?: On performing a reverse image search on some of the keyframes of the video, we came across the same video on YouTube from 13 March 2023.
The video was shared by The Telegraph and titled, "Russian shells rain down on Vuhledar as fight for Donbas rages on".
The description stated that Russian forces reportedly targeted the eastern town of Vuhledar by bombing incendiary thermite munitions.
We also found a report by The Sun about this video which mentioned that Russian forces used incendiary bombs which is a mixture of metal powder and metal oxide.
It added that this can burn through steel, concrete and human flesh because of its extremely hot temperature.
What is a white phosphorus bomb and is it legal?: White phosphorus is a solid crystalline material with a waxy texture that darkens upon exposure to light.
According to international laws, white phosphorus shells are prohibited in densely populated civilian areas. However, its use in open spaces as cover for troops is permitted.
Conclusion: An old video from Ukraine is being falsely shared as Israel bombing the Gaza Strip with white phosphorus bombs.
(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)