2,842 Gazans ‘vaporised’ by thermobaric bombs? Explaining the weapon allegedly used by Israel

Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza on October 8, 2023

• At least 2,842 Palestinians missing since Gaza war began
• Report links disappearances to high-temperature weapons use
• Thermobaric weapons cause intense heat and prolonged blasts

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A recent investigation has reported that at least 2,842 Palestinians have gone missing since the start of the war in Gaza, suggesting that the disappearances may be linked to the alleged use of high-temperature weapons capable of destroying human remains.

The report, The Rest of the Story, which was aired on Al Jazeera, cited data collected by Gaza’s Civil Defense teams since October 2023.

According to the report, military experts attributed the disappearances to the use of high-temperature weapons, including thermobaric and thermal munitions.

Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told  Al Jazeera that teams use a “method of elimination” at strike sites. “We enter a targeted home and cross-reference the known number of occupants with the bodies recovered,” Basal said.

What is a thermobaric weapon?

Thermobaric weapons are also referred to as fuel-air explosives or vacuum bombs. They are a type of conventional munition which generate intense heat along with a prolonged, high-pressure blast wave.

Unlike conventional explosives that carry both fuel and an oxidiser within a single casing, thermobaric weapons disperse a fuel cloud that ignites using oxygen from the surrounding air, significantly amplifying the explosion’s impact. The term “thermobaric” means thermo (heat) and baric (pressure), underscoring the twin destructive effects these weapons are designed to produce.

These weapons can be deployed either as rockets or as air-dropped bombs. Upon impact, an initial charge bursts the casing and disperses a cloud of fuel into the surrounding area.

How do these weapons work?

Thermobaric weapons typically function in two stages. At first, the munition disperses a cloud of flammable aerosol fuel across the target area.

This fuel then mixes with atmospheric oxygen.

In the next stage, a secondary ignition then detonates the cloud, producing a powerful fireball and a prolonged pressure wave. As the explosion relies on oxygen from the air, it can generate extremely high temperatures. It can often reach up to 3,500 degrees Celsius.

The blast wave from a thermobaric weapon lasts longer than that of conventional high explosives. It can also travel into buildings, bunkers and tunnels.

In enclosed spaces, the pressure wave can reflect off walls.

Are these weapons legal?

According to BBC, thermobaric munitions can be traced back to World War II. These weapons were initially used by the German army. They were not widely developed until the 1960s, when the US used them in Vietnam.

The UK's Ministry of Defence said Russia has used thermobaric weapons in Ukraine.

Russia used them in its war in Chechnya in 1999. Also, Russian-made thermobaric weapons were reportedly used in the Syrian civil war by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Thermobaric weapons are not expressly banned under international law.

However, their use is subject to international humanitarian law, including the core principles of distinction and proportionality.

Human rights groups have voiced concern over the deployment of such weapons in densely populated areas, arguing that their wide-area impact increases the risk of civilian casualties.