"Amnesty International delegates visiting the Gaza Strip found indisputable evidence of widespread use of white phosphorus in densely-populated residential areas in Gaza City and in the north," the rights group said in a statement.

"We saw streets and alleyways littered with evidence of the use of white phosphorus, including still burning wedges and the remnants of the shells and canisters fired by the Israeli army," said Christopher Cobb-Smith, a weapons expert touring Gaza as part of a four-person fact-finding team.

Human rights groups and medics in Gaza reported having treated dozens of people suffering burns caused by white phosphorus during Israel's 22-day offensive against the Hamas-ruled territory that killed more than 1,300 people.

Under international law, white phosphorus is banned for use near civilians, but is permitted for creating a smokescreen.

Israel has insisted that all weapons being used in its Gaza war were within the bounds of international law.

The substance is a toxic chemical agent which can cause severe burns. Dispersed in artillery shells, bombs, and rockets, it burns on contact with oxygen and creates a smokescreen in order to hide the movement of troops.

Donatella Rovera, Amnesty's researcher on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, said the use of white phosphorus could amount to a war crime.

"Such extensive use of this weapon in Gaza's densely-populated residential neighbourhoods is inherently indiscriminate.

"Its repeated use in this manner, despite evidence of its indiscriminate effects and its toll on civilians, is a war crime," she was quoted as saying in the statement.

"Artillery is an area weapon; not good for pinpoint targeting. The fact that these munitions, which are usually used as ground burst, were fired as air bursts increases the likely size of the danger area," Cobb-Smith said.

The group said that one of the places worst affected by the use of white phosphorus was the United Nations Works and Relief Agency compound in Gaza City, where Israeli forces fired three white phosphorus shells on 15 January.

The same ammunition was used in a strike on Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City the same day, Amnesty said.

Israel launched the air and ground offensive on December 27 with the goal of halting continuous Palestinian rocket fire against the south of the country that killed four people during the offensive which ended on Sunday.

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