Editing Israel Defense Forces (section)

==History==
{{main|History of the Israel Defense Forces}}
{{See also|Zionism#Pre-state self-defense|Israeli war crimes}}
{{further|List of the Israel Defense Forces operations}}
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2013}}

[[File:Sharon ageila.JPG|thumb|upright|Major-Gen. [[Ariel Sharon]] (left), during the [[Battle of Abu-Ageila (1967)|Battle of Abu-Ageila]], June 1967]]

The IDF traces its roots to Jewish paramilitary organizations in the [[Yishuv|New Yishuv]], starting with the [[Second Aliyah]] (1904 to 1914).<ref>{{cite web |author=Speedy |url=http://thespeedymedia.blogspot.com/2011/09/idfs-history.html#.U4ei6F4ZffM |title=The Speedy Media: IDF's History |publisher=Thespeedymedia.blogspot.com |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=3 August 2014 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327205050/http://thespeedymedia.blogspot.com/2011/09/idfs-history.html#.U4ei6F4ZffM |url-status=live }}</ref> There had been several such organizations, or in part even older date, such as the "Mahane Yehuda" mounted guards company founded by Michael Halperin in 1891<ref name=post>{{cite web |title= The Israeli Flag (definitive stamp), 11/2010. Four Milestones in the History of the Flag: Nezz Ziona, 1891 |publisher=[[Israel Post]], The [[Israel Philatelic Service]] |url= https://services.israelpost.co.il/PostBoolaee.nsf/Allbulim/25823662C6A509C6C22577D100379ECC/$File/Israeli%20Flag.pdf |access-date= 22 January 2024}}</ref> (see [[Ness Ziona#History|Ness Ziona]]), [[HaMagen]] (1915–17),<ref name=Oslo>Hemmingby, Cato. [http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-28597 ''Conflict and Military Terminology: The Language of the Israel Defense Forces''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111181627/https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/24378 |date=January 11, 2024 }}. Master's thesis, University of Oslo, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2021.</ref> HaNoter<ref name=Oslo/> (1912–13; see [[Zionism#Pre-state self-defense|Zionism: Pre-state self-defense]]), and the much more consequential (but falsely-claimed "first" such organization), [[Bar-Giora]], founded in September 1907. Bar-Giora was transformed into [[Hashomer]] in April 1909, which operated until the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]] came into being in 1920. Hashomer was an elitist organization with a narrow scope and was mainly created to protect against criminal gangs seeking to steal property. The [[Zion Mule Corps]] and the [[Jewish Legion]], both part of the [[British Army]] of [[World War I]], further bolstered the Yishuv with military experience and manpower, forming the basis for later paramilitary forces.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web |title=HAGANAH |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/asia-and-africa/israeli-history/haganah |website=encyclopedia.com |publisher=The Gale Group, Inc. |access-date=January 23, 2019 |language=en |quote=The Haganah ("defense") was founded in June 1920... |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531185912/https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/asia-and-africa/israeli-history/haganah |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the [[1920 Palestine riots]] against Jews in April 1920, the Yishuv leadership realized the need for a nationwide underground defence organization, and the [[Haganah]] was founded in June 1920.<ref name="auto4"/> The Haganah became a full-scale defence force after the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine]] with an organized structure, consisting of three main units—the [[Hish (Haganah corps)|Field Corps]], [[Guard Corps (Haganah)|Guard Corps]], and the [[Palmach]]. During World War II, the Yishuv participated in the British war effort, culminating in the formation of the [[Jewish Brigade]]. These would eventually form the backbone of the Israel Defense Forces, and provide it with its initial manpower and doctrine.

Following Israel's [[Declaration of Independence (Israel)|Declaration of Independence]], Prime Minister and Defense Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] issued an order for the formation of the Israel Defense Forces on 26 May 1948.  Although Ben-Gurion had no legal authority to issue such an order, the order was made legal by [[Cabinet of Israel|the cabinet]] on 31 May. The same order called for the disbandment of all other Jewish armed forces.<ref name="ostfeld-legal">{{cite book |title=An Army is Born |volume=1 |author=Ostfeld, Zehava |year=1994 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Defense]] |pages=104–106 |isbn=978-965-05-0695-7 |editor=Shoshana Shiftel|language=he}}</ref> The two other Jewish underground organizations, [[Irgun]] and [[Lehi (group)|Lehi]], agreed to join the IDF if they would be able to form independent units and agreed not to make independent arms purchases. This was the background for the [[Altalena Affair]], a confrontation surrounding weapons purchased by the Irgun resulting in a standoff between Irgun members and the newly created IDF. The affair came to an end when ''Altalena'', the ship carrying the arms, was shelled by the IDF. Following the affair, all independent Irgun and Lehi units were either disbanded or merged into the IDF. The Palmach, a leading component of the Haganah, also joined the IDF [[The Generals' Revolt|with provisions]], and Ben Gurion responded by disbanding its staff in 1949, after which many senior Palmach officers retired, notably its first commander, [[Yitzhak Sadeh]].

The new army organized itself when the [[1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine]] escalated into the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], which saw neighbouring Arab states attack. Twelve [[Infantry Corps (Israel)|infantry]] and [[Armor Corps (Israel)|armoured]] brigades formed: [[Golani Brigade|Golani]], [[Carmeli Brigade|Carmeli]], [[Alexandroni Brigade|Alexandroni]], [[Kiryati Brigade|Kiryati]], [[Givati Brigade|Givati]], [[Etzioni Brigade|Etzioni]], the [[7th Armoured Brigade (Israel)|7th]], and [[8th Armored Brigade (Israel)|8th]] armoured brigades, [[Oded Brigade|Oded]], [[Harel Brigade|Harel]], [[Yiftach Brigade|Yiftach]], and [[Negev Brigade|the Negev]].<ref name="idf-enc-11-15">{{cite encyclopedia |title=The Infantry Brigades |encyclopedia=IDF in Its Corps: Army and Security Encyclopedia |last=Pa'il |first=Meir |author-link=Meir Pa'il |publisher=Revivim Publishing |year=1982 |page=15 |volume=11 |editor=Yehuda Schiff|language=he}}</ref> After the war, some of the brigades were converted to reserve units, and others were disbanded. Directorates and corps were created from corps and services in the Haganah, and this basic structure in the IDF [[#Organization|still exists today]].

Immediately after the 1948 war, the [[Israel-Palestinian conflict]] shifted to a [[Reprisal operations|low-intensity conflict]] between the IDF and [[Palestinian fedayeen]]. In the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]], the IDF's first serious test of strength after 1949, the new army captured the [[Sinai Peninsula]] from Egypt, which was later returned. In the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], Israel conquered the Sinai Peninsula, [[Gaza Strip]], [[West Bank]] (including [[East Jerusalem]]) and [[Golan Heights]] from the surrounding Arab states, changing the balance of power in the region as well as the role of the IDF. In the following years leading up to the [[Yom Kippur War]], the IDF fought in the [[War of Attrition]] against Egypt in the Sinai and a border war against the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) in [[Jordan]], culminating in the [[Battle of Karameh]].

The surprise of the Yom Kippur War and its aftermath completely changed the IDF's procedures and approach to warfare. Organizational changes were made and more time was dedicated to training for [[conventional warfare]]. However, in the following years the army's role slowly shifted again to low-intensity conflict, [[urban warfare]] and [[counter-terrorism]]. An example of the latter was the successful 1976 [[Operation Entebbe]] commando raid to free hijacked airline passengers being held captive in [[Uganda]]. During this era, the IDF also mounted a [[Operation Opera|successful bombing mission]] in [[Iraq]] to destroy its nuclear reactor. It was involved in the [[Lebanese Civil War]], initiating [[Operation Litani]] and later the [[1982 Lebanon War]], where the IDF ousted Palestinian guerrilla organizations from [[Lebanon]].

For twenty-five years the IDF maintained a [[Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon|security zone]] inside South Lebanon with their allies the [[South Lebanon Army]]. Palestinian militancy has been the main focus of the IDF ever since, especially during the [[First Intifada|First]] and [[Second Intifada]]s, [[Operation Defensive Shield]], the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Gaza War (2008–2009)]], the [[Operation Pillar of Defense|2012 Gaza War]], the [[Operation Protective Edge|2014 Gaza War]], and the [[Operation Guardian of the Walls|2021 Israel-Palestine crisis]], causing the IDF to change many of its values and publish the [[IDF Code of Ethics]]. The Lebanese [[Shia Islam|Shia]] organization [[Hezbollah]] has also been a growing threat,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-hiding-100000-missiles-that-can-hit-north-army-says/|title=Hezbollah hiding 100,000 missiles that can hit north, army says|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=8 March 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064112/http://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-hiding-100000-missiles-that-can-hit-north-army-says/|url-status=live}}</ref> against which the IDF fought an [[South Lebanon conflict (1982–2000)|asymmetric conflict]] between 1982 and 2000, as well as a [[2006 Lebanon War|full-scale war]] in 2006.

The Israel Defense Forces have been accused of committing various [[Israeli war crimes|war crimes]] since the [[Israeli Declaration of Independence|founding of Israel]] in 1948. Israel ratified the [[Geneva Conventions]] on July 6, 1951,<ref name="HRW">{{cite web |title=The Obligations of Israel and the Palestinian Authority Under International Law |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/israel/hebron6-04.htm#:~:text=Israel%20ratified%20the%20Geneva%20Conventions%20on%20July%206%2C%201951.&text=Israel%20has%20not%20signed%20or,not%20party%20to%20the%20treaty. |website=[[Human Rights Watch]] |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-date=13 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013105550/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/israel/hebron6-04.htm#:~:text=Israel%20ratified%20the%20Geneva%20Conventions%20on%20July%206%2C%201951.&text=Israel%20has%20not%20signed%20or,not%20party%20to%20the%20treaty. |url-status=live}}</ref> and on January 2, 2015, the [[State of Palestine]] acceded to the [[Rome Statute]], granting the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC) jurisdiction over war crimes committed in the [[Palestinian territories|Occupied Palestinian Territories]] (OPT).<ref>{{cite web |title=Accountability for International Crimes in Palestine |url=https://ccrjustice.org/home/what-we-do/our-cases/accountability-international-crimes-palestine |website=ccrjustice.org |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107000440/https://ccrjustice.org/home/what-we-do/our-cases/accountability-international-crimes-palestine |url-status=live}}</ref> A 2017 report by [[Human Rights Watch]] accused the IDF of [[unlawful killing]]s, [[police brutality|using excessive force in policing situations]], [[forced displacement]], excessive use of [[detention (imprisonment)|detention]] and [[Palestinian freedom of movement|excessive restrictions on movement]], as well as criticized the IDF's support and protection for [[Israeli settlements]] in the [[occupied Palestinian territory]].<ref name="HRW1">{{cite web |date=4 June 2017 |title=Israel: 50 Years of Occupation Abuses |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/04/israel-50-years-occupation-abuses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409043702/https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/04/israel-50-years-occupation-abuses |archive-date=9 April 2024 |access-date=31 March 2024 |work=Human Rights Watch }}</ref>
Human rights experts argue that actions taken by the IDF during armed conflicts in the OPT fall under the rubric of war crimes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/ |website=[[Amnesty International]] |access-date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011073839/https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Various [[UN special rapporteur]]s, alongside human rights and aid organizations including [[Human Rights Watch]], [[Médecins Sans Frontières]], [[Amnesty International]], have accused Israel of war crimes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaza: Apparent War Crimes During May Fighting |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/07/27/gaza-apparent-war-crimes-during-may-fighting |website=Human Rights Watch |date=27 July 2021 |access-date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411105454/https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/07/27/gaza-apparent-war-crimes-during-may-fighting |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MSF war crimes1">{{cite news |title=Indiscriminate violence and the collective punishment of Gaza must cease |url=https://www.msf.org/indiscriminate-violence-and-collective-punishment-gaza-must-cease |newspaper=Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International |publisher=[[Médecins Sans Frontières]] |access-date=1 November 2023 |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022012057/https://www.msf.org/indiscriminate-violence-and-collective-punishment-gaza-must-cease |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel May Have Committed War Crimes in Jenin Operation, UN Palestinian Rights Official Says |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-07-06/ty-article/.premium/israel-may-have-committed-war-crimes-in-jenin-raid-un-palestinian-rights-official-says/00000189-2a7b-dcb5-a5df-6f7f370a0000 |work=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=2023-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707052148/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-07-06/ty-article/.premium/israel-may-have-committed-war-crimes-in-jenin-raid-un-palestinian-rights-official-says/00000189-2a7b-dcb5-a5df-6f7f370a0000 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Israel/OPT: Investigate war crimes during August offensive on Gaza |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/israel-opt-investigate-war-crimes-during-august-offensive-on-gaza/ |website=[[Amnesty International]] |date=25 October 2022 |access-date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=19 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019203733/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/10/israel-opt-investigate-war-crimes-during-august-offensive-on-gaza/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Israeli Settlements Should be Classified as War Crimes, Says Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in OPT |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/israeli-settlements-should-be-classified-as-war-crimes-says-special-rapporteur-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-opt-press-release/ |website=[[United Nations]] |access-date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325220303/https://www.un.org/unispal/document/israeli-settlements-should-be-classified-as-war-crimes-says-special-rapporteur-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-opt-press-release/ |url-status=live}}</ref>