On January 3rd 2009, Israeli forces launched a ground invasion to re-occupy parts of the Gaza Strip. Following the conflict there have been reports that the Israelis used uranium weapons. These have been widely disseminated via blogs, websites and web media. They have also been repeated by Al-Jazeera and Iranian Press TV.

ICBUW has undertaken detailed research into the allegations, this has included making direct contact with NGOs whose observers were on the ground in Gaza and Israel as the attack was underway.

To date, we believe that there is still no compelling evidence to support the claim that Israel used uranium weapons in the attack. This is likely to remain the case until independent sampling is undertaken and the results published.

Uranium weapons

Many of the allegations regarding the use of DU in Gaza came from suspicions over the contents of a small bunker-busting bomb called the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. Activists felt that for the munition to have the penetration that it was advertised as having, it must contain depleted uranium. While depleted uranium is mentioned on the patent, it is just one of several possible dense materials suggested. Listing a variety of substances on patents is standard procedure as a means of ensuring that a product is protected. As yet there is nothing to suggest that depleted uranium is used in the GBU-39, it is just as likely that it is tungsten. The weapon's manufacturer Boeing does not have a DU handling licence at the plant where they are produced.

The second question that arose was whether the US-made GBU-39s actually made it to Israel. In mid-2008, news that the US Congress had approved an export order for 1000 GBU-39s to Israel appeared in the media. At the time many claimed that it was a precursor to a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

During the conflict, the Israeli newspapers Ha-aretz and The Jerusalem Post claimed that Israel had received and was using the weapons. However a source at Boeing later told Aviation Week that the order had been received but not delivered. It is unclear whether the planned shipment went ahead. Aviation Week speculated that if the Israelis had received GBU-39s, they could have come from USAF arms caches in the country.

Finally, was there any evidence that GBU-39s were actually used? Marc Garlasco, Senior Military Analyst with Human Rights Watch thinks not. It is alleged that these weapons were being used to destroy the Palestinian smugglers’ tunnel network into Gaza, however Garlasco claims that the Israeli strikes on the tunnels were limited and that those that were attacked, were attacked with ageing Mk-82 and Mk-84 bombs. Furthermore, the soil in the area is sandy and the tunnels comparatively shallow and not reinforced. Even if Israel had state of the art bunker busting bombs – why use them needlessly?

It was also alleged that Israel used DU tank rounds. Neither Human Rights Watch nor the Mines Advisory Group saw any evidence of DU-based kinetic energy penetrators; instead their tanks were using High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds.

Dense Inert Metal Explosives (DIME)

As had been the case with Israel’s 2006 attack on Lebanon, the conflict in Gaza also produced claims alleging that DIME weapons were used. These are thought to be missiles with warheads packed with high explosive and powdered tungsten – hence the dense inert metal. The resulting weapon produces a very intense but localised blast. Designed by the US, the principle behind them is to reduce the extent of ‘collateral damage’ when they are used in heavily populated areas. To achieve this, DIME munitions are thought to utilise a carbon fibre body, this reduces shrapnel, one of key causes of casualties from conventional munitions.

The first reliable reports that something was amiss came from doctors working for the Norwegian humanitarian NGO NORWAC. They were observing unusual injuries in the survivors of attacks by drones. The injuries were massive and unlike any they had come across in their years of experience working in combat zones.

Human Rights Watch documented a considerable amount of data on these alleged DIME weapons. Subsequent testing of fragments by Human Rights Watch and NORWAC, analysis of blast patterns and eyewitness reports has led them to conclude that what they were seeing was the use of fragmentation sleeves on drone-launched missiles.

Israeli drones are armed with Spike missiles. These are typically used as an anti-material weapon. However it seems that the Israelis added a sleeve made of tiny tungsten cubes. This turns the Spike into an effective anti-personnel weapon. The cubes spread outward from the blast site and act as micro-shrapnel. The density of the tungsten means that it loses kinetic energy rapidly, creating a focused blast area.

In many respect it mimics the impact of a DIME weapon but is a less high-tech means of achieving some of their effects. For more on drone-launched missiles and fragmentation sleeves, please visit the link to Human Right's Watch's report 'Precisely Wrong' below:

ICBUW and European Parliamentarians have called for the long-term monitoring of civilians with embedded tungsten micro-shrapnel from Israeli missiles due to concerns over the carcinogenicity of tungsten.

See also

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  International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons

  Updated statement on the alleged use of DU in Gaza

  UN agency to investigate alleged DU use in Gaza following concerns from Arab states.

  23 January 2009 - ICBUW
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  International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons

  Statement on Israel’s attack on Gaza

  ICBUW is deeply concerned over the ongoing humanitarian crisis triggered by Israel’s attack on Gaza and calls for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians caught up by the conflict. ICBUW condemns the overwhelming use of force in a crowded civilian environment.

  6 January 2009 - ICBUW