Israel targets eastern Gaza City with phosphorous bombs as resistance fighters prevented Israeli forces from advancing into the city.

White phosphorus, classified as 'chemical weapon' by the US intelligence, is an incendiary material that causes horrific burns, severe injuries or death when it comes in contact with human skin.

Under the Geneva Treaty of 1980, the use of white phosphorous as a weapon is prohibited, however, there is no blanket ban on its use as a smokescreen or for illumination.

On Sunday, Human Rights Watch warned about the use of white phosphorus in Gaza saying its researchers had observed the use of the chemical weapon by the Israeli military in Gaza City and Jabaliya on Saturday and Sunday.

Despite the presence of photographic evidence proving that Israel has been using the controversial weapon during its offensive in Gaza, Israeli military denies using the chemical against the civilians saying it is using white phosphorus shells to create smokescreens to allow its ground forces to operate.

Tel Aviv has refused to comment on the types of munitions it is using in the conflict which has so far left over 900 Palestinians dead and more than 4,000 others wounded. Israel has admitted using white phosphorus during its 33-day war with Lebanon in 2006.

Israel continued its onslaught on Monday for the 17th consecutive day, regardless of UN resolution 1860 which calls for and 'immediate' and 'durable' ceasefire in the region.

Israeli warplanes attacked several locations in Ziytoun neighborhood, destroying a number of houses.

"My family was inside our house when a shell hit it spraying sparks like lava. Two more shells hit the house separately. The sparks set my sons on fire. But I couldn't put out the blaze because my face was on fire. I couldn't see. They were screaming mom, we're dying. One of my sons was burned to death, burned to a crisp," a Gazan woman told our Press TV reporter.

HE/DT