Israel Defense Forces

The order to create the IDF was issued on May 26, 1948, and went into effect on May 31, 1948, just two weeks after Israel’s declaration of independence. Since its creation, its guiding principles have been shaped by the country’s need to defend itself from its numerically superior neighbors. The primary element of this doctrine is the belief that Israel cannot afford to lose a single war.

IDF planners believe that this goal can be attained only through a defensive strategy that utilizes the rapid mobilization of overwhelming force to take the war to the enemy. Because the Israeli army has a relatively small active-duty component—estimates in the early 21st century placed it at some 125,000 troops, of whom roughly two-thirds were conscripts—this mission could be achieved only through the maintenance of a well-trained reserve force and active intelligence gathering. These human assets were supplemented with robust early warning systems, one of the world’s most advanced theater missile defense networks, and a mechanized force that included some 2,500 main battle tanks and more than 5,000 armored personnel carriers.

The Israel Defense Forces says it soldiers in northern Gaza attempted to stop a UN humanitarian convoy Thursday and fired "warning shots that were not aimed at the vehicles."

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza told CNN earlier this week that Israeli soldiers had fired at its convoy while it was traveling along a route designated by the Israeli army.

Upon review of the incident, the IDF on Sunday said the convoy, after completing its aid delivery, was asked by Israeli troops to change its return route south "in order to protect the safety of the convoy from combat that was ongoing in proximity of that area."

“IDF soldiers present in the field were not aware of the change in route. As a result of this, when the convoy arrived, the soldiers in the field operated to stop it, including the firing of warning shots that were not aimed at the vehicles. When the vehicles came to a stop, the forces ceased fire,” it said.

There were no casualties in the incident, but one of the vehicles was damaged by “ricochets from the warning shots that were fired,” the IDF said.

The IDF said it had learned from the incident and would take those lessons forward to "prevent future incidents of this nature."

The United Nations relief chief Martin Griffiths condemned the incident in a statement Friday, saying the convoy was clearly marked and that attacks on humanitarian workers are unlawful.

Griffiths has previously described the "impossible situation" of getting aid into Gaza amid "constant bombardments," poor communications, damaged roads and delays at checkpoints.

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