Israel has revealed that it has disciplined two senior army officers for using white phosphorus shells during an offensive in Gaza. The admission is contained in the Israeli response to the Goldstone report, which concluded both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes. Details of any punishment given to them have not yet been made clear. They were named in Israeli media reports as Gaza Division Commander, Brigadier General Eyal Eisenberg and Givati Brigade Commander, Colonel Ilan Malka. <br/><br/>This is the first time that Israel has acknowledged allegations by the UN and other international organisations that white phosphorus was used in such a way as to endanger civilians during the Gaza war. During the 22-day conflict, media pictures showed incendiary shells raining down on a UN compound.<br/><br/>The UN General Assembly has demanded that both Israel and Hamas launch independent investigations into their conduct during the Israeli operation which began in December 2008. The Islamist movement Hamas has denied that its forces deliberately targeted civilians with rockets. Both sides have until 5 February to respond in detail to the UN General Assembly's request for independent investigations to be launched.