The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is an enigma. On one hand, the IDF is a powerful, no-holds-barred, get-the-job-done military machine. At the same time, the IDF is human, striving to be compassionate whenever it is safe to do. This dichotomy poses a challenge to the IDF’s mission, often difficult to navigate. Gadi Ezra, an Israeli lawyer and diplomatic advisor, experienced this first-hand when he served in the IDF Special Forces in Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza in 2008, three years after Israel evacuated Gaza and handed it over to the Palestinians.
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