standards

of warfare

Commitment to IHL/LOAC: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operate under the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which prioritize civilian protection by requiring distinction between combatants and civilians, pursuit of legitimate military objectives, and avoidance of disproportionate civilian harm.
Urban Warfare Challenges: Despite facing terrorist groups like Hamas, which embed among civilians and launch rockets from densely populated areas, the IDF consistently meets and often surpasses IHL standards in urban combat.
Civilian Protection Measures: The IDF employs extensive precautions, including phone calls, text messages, leaflets, and other warnings to evacuate civilians near military targets, frequently aborting operations to prevent civilian casualties—efforts that exceed Geneva Conventions requirements.
International Recognition: A 2015 report by military leaders from liberal democracies noted that the IDF’s measures to prevent collateral damage are so rigorous that they could limit the operational effectiveness of other militaries if adopted as legal norms.
Unmatched Civilian-to-Combatant Ratio: In Gaza, the IDF achieves a civilian-to-combatant casualty ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.5, surpassing historical urban warfare standards (e.g., Iraq War’s 1:2 to 1:4), demonstrating Israel’s dedication to minimizing civilian harm despite Hamas’s use of human shields and tunnel networks.