Israel Defense Forces

Combined military forces of Israel

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2026 IDF considers expanding recruitment to Jewish communities abroad to address a manpower shortfall of 10,000-12,000 soldiers, targeting diaspora Jews in North America and Europe.
2025 Iron Beam anti-rockets laser-based system is scheduled to be issued.
2025 JTA reported on a controversy regarding FIDF's claim of being the only U.S. charity authorized to raise funds for IDF soldiers, with competing claims from American Friends of LIBI.
2025 Nily Falic returned to the role of national chair on an interim basis.
2025 Nadav Padan, a retired Israeli major general, became the new chief executive of FIDF.
2025 Planned opening of the Haifa–Nazareth light rail system, which will connect multiple cities and towns along its route.
August 2025 Israeli army report revealed a rise in soldier fatalities due to suicide, psychological trauma, and distressing experiences from the prolonged conflict in Gaza.
August 2025 Israeli army report indicated a rise in soldier fatalities due to suicide, psychological trauma, and distressing experiences from the prolonged Israel-Palestine War.
July 2025 Steven Weil stepped down as chief executive.
July 2025 FIDF announced the resignations of its chair and CEO following an internal report leak alleging mismanagement and a toxic workplace culture. The organization committed to improving transparency and culture, appointing interim leadership and later a new chief executive.
January 2025 Multiple Israeli news outlets reported a significant number of reservists (estimated over 100,000) ceased showing up for duty following the collapse of the ceasefire, indicating potential challenges for the government's continuation of the war.
January 2025 The Hasmonean Brigade received its first 50 soldiers, marking a significant milestone in Haredi military service integration.
2024 Israeli press reported plans for a national mental health and resilience center for soldiers in Netanya, a project aligned with FIDF donor-funded resilience priorities.
2024 FIDF reported its 20,000th scholarship recipient through the IMPACT! program, continuing to expand scholarship opportunities for former combat and combat-support soldiers from low-income backgrounds.
2024 Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Haredi men were eligible for compulsory military service, marking a significant shift in conscription policies for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.
2024 The Givati Brigade first received the M320 grenade launcher from Germany/United States.
2024 The IDF continued its military campaign in Gaza, facing international scrutiny and challenges in achieving its strategic objectives while minimizing civilian casualties.
2024 The Hasmonean Brigade, a new Haredi infantry unit, was created to accommodate Haredi soldiers.
2024 Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, 600 Haredim have enlisted through the Shlav Bet program, a recruitment track for Haredim over 26 years old to complete military service.
November 2024 Israeli military officials issue 1,126 arrest warrants for ultra-Orthodox Jewish conscripts who did not respond to drafting orders. Brigadier General Shay Tayeb warns of immediate summons, draft dodger status, travel bans, and potential arrest for non-compliance.
October 2024 Smaller adaptation of Iron Beam, called Lite Beam, was issued.
October 7 2024 According to Neve Gordon, IDF began authorizing killings of up to and over 100 civilians when targeting a single senior Hamas commander, potentially attempting to establish a new precedent in international law
September 7 2024 Two people were injured at a demonstration in Haifa after police threw them over barbed wire.
September 1 2024 Protests erupted in Israel after the Israel Defense Forces reported recovering six dead hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The protests resulted in at least 4 people being injured and 36 arrests.
September 1 2024 Two people were arrested during a demonstration in Haifa for lighting torches.
July 2024 Ultra-Orthodox Shas party urges potential conscripts to ignore IDF call-ups, leading to protests where demonstrators attacked law enforcement and the vehicle of Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf.
July 2024 The IDF began drafting Haredi men following the Supreme Court ruling, marking a significant change in military service policies.
June 2024 The Lancet published a study estimating 64,260 deaths in Gaza from traumatic injuries, with a potential comparable figure of 93,000 traumatic injury deaths.
June 2024 Israel's Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Haredi Jews were eligible for compulsory military service, ending nearly eight decades of exemption.
March 2024 Israel launched a comprehensive public transportation reform aimed at encouraging public transport use by implementing significant price discounts. The reform includes 50% discounts for peripheral residents, people with disabilities, and 33% discounts for individuals aged 18-26. Discharged soldiers and national service completers will receive free transportation for one year.
February 2024 Sofia Orr was jailed for refusing to serve in the IDF, explaining her decision was made at age 15 to avoid normalizing a 'decades-long cycle of violence'.
2023 FIDF reports significant financial growth during the first year of the Israel–Hamas war, with $281.96 million in revenue, $143.17 million in expenses, and $336.43 million in total assets.
2023 FIDF's IRS filing showed revenue increased to $281.96 million.
December 26 2023 Israeli teen Tal Mitnick was sentenced to 30 days in jail for refusing to draft, condemning the Gaza war as 'a revenge campaign against Palestinian people'.
November 2023 Protests by anti-war and Palestinian-solidarity groups occurred outside a FIDF fundraising gala at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California, with local media reporting hundreds to over a thousand protesters and a significant police presence.
October 2023 Launched initiatives to secure funding for victims and their families affected by the Hamas attack, while simultaneously critiquing the Netanyahu government as 'totally paralyzed' and undermining national security.
October 2023 Reservists began experiencing accumulated loss of income, with many becoming demoralized or frustrated with the prolonged conflict.
October 2023 Ariel Davidod declared his refusal to serve in the IDF.
October 2023 Initiated and led efforts to equip and organize civilian defense squads nationwide, focusing on regions near the Gaza border, in response to perceived government and military failures in protecting civilians during the conflict.
October 2023 The Caracal Battalion engaged in intense fighting against Hamas militants near the Gaza border, with female soldiers battling militants for nearly four hours and reportedly killing around 100 Hamas members, demonstrating women's effectiveness in combat roles.
October 14 2023 First protest held in Tel Aviv criticizing the Israeli government's handling of the Hamas attack and hostage situation.
October 7 2023 Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals (including 815 civilians) and taking 251 people hostage with the goal of forcing Israel to release Palestinian prisoners.
October 7 2023 During the Hamas incursion into Israel, Ziv emerges as a key figure of individual resistance, actively organizing military efforts and civilian defense initiatives in conflict zones.
October 7 2023 An all-woman tank crew made history as the first female tank crew in the West to engage in active combat during the Hamas attack on Israel. The crew fought for 17 hours and eliminated more than 50 Hamas militants.
September 2023 Over 200 Israeli youth released an open letter titled 'Youth Against Dictatorship', announcing their collective refusal to serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
August 2023 Tel Aviv Light Rail opens its first line, the Red Line, serving Tel Aviv and surrounding cities. The line features a significant underground portion.
June 2023 Blanket military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students expired, potentially allowing the IDF to conscript eligible ultra-Orthodox citizens. A cabinet resolution extended the no-draft policy for another 10 months.
2022 FIDF reported annual revenue of $89.34 million.

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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Transport in Israel, List of equipment of the Israel Defense Forces, Targeted killing by Israel, Israel Defense Forces ranks, History of the Israel Defense Forces, Exemption from military service in Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Ziv, Refusal to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, September 2024 Israel hostage deal protests, Women in the Israel Defense Forces & Tanks of the Israel Defense Forces, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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