Israel-Gaza latest: Reports – dozens killed in blast at refugee camp in Gaza

Explained: What is the IDF and how big is it compared with Hamas and other countries’ armed forces? Israel’s ground operations are expanding inside Gaza and troops are now inside the enclave – looking to achieve objectives set out by senior commanders. But how big is Israel’s armed forces? To answer that, we need an understanding of what the Israeli Defence Forces (or IDF) is. The IDF has three wings – ground forces, the air force and navy. Fixed-term military service has been compulsory in the country since 1948, meaning all citizens over the age of 18 are required to…