38 Which is the most moral army in the world?
Gemini: – It is legally and morally impossible to describe the Israeli army as “the most moral army in the world.”
Which army is the most moral in the world?
The phrase “the most moral army in the world” is not based on an objective, measurable, and globally agreed-upon military criterion. From the perspective of international relations, military history, and political science, since the concept of “morality” is subjective, countries and societies define it according to their own national values, historical narratives, and cultural codes.
This situation leads to different approaches in the evaluation of military forces:
- National and Cultural Perspective
Many societies describe their own armed forces as “the most moral” or “the most compassionate” due to their historical heritage, sensitivity to protecting civilians, and defense-oriented doctrine.
In Türkiye, a similar definition is made for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) throughout history and today through the “Mehmetçik” culture. In this approach, the humanitarian approach, sense of justice, and mission to protect the oppressed (for example, orphanage activities or peacekeeping operations during the Korean War) of the army in the territories it conquers or operates in are highlighted.
Similarly, in the official discourse or public opinion of other countries, it may be claimed that their armies are the forces that most respect operational ethics, international law, and human rights. - International Law and War Ethics (Jus in Bello)
On the international stage, an army’s “moral” stance is measured not by abstract claims, but by how well it adheres to the Geneva Conventions and the standards of the law of war.
These standards include:
- Protection of civilians, prisoners, and the wounded.
- Avoidance of the use of disproportionate force.
- Prevention of war crimes and transparent prosecution of personnel who commit them within their own legal mechanisms.
However, objective assessments made on a global scale (for example, indices such as Global Firepower) do not evaluate armies according to moral criteria; It ranks them according to concrete military data such as budget, personnel numbers, technological capacity, and logistical strength.
In short,
The designation of “the most moral army” is not a military statistic, but an expression of political, emotional, and cultural belonging. Every nation tends to see its own army’s commitment to war ethics and humanitarian values as the highest.
So, which armies do not comply with International Law and War Ethics?
In international law, rather than declaring an army institutionally completely “illegal,” the focus is on violations of the laws of war, war crimes, and human rights violations committed by armies in conflict zones. Organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch (HRW) report these violations.
The main actors and armies accused of systematically violating international law, the Geneva Conventions, and war ethics throughout history and today, and against whom international investigations have been conducted, are as follows:
- States Against Which International Investigations and Decisions Exist
- Russian Armed Forces: Particularly during the invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022; Russia is heavily criticized for bombing civilian settlements, targeting infrastructure facilities, and alleged massacres of civilians in areas such as Bucha. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against Russian leadership for practices in this process, including the illegal deportation of children. It has also been the subject of UN reports for targeting civilian hospitals and markets in its air operations during the Syrian Civil War.
- Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Accused of using disproportionate force, systematically targeting civilian settlements, hospitals, and places of worship, and hindering humanitarian aid through blockades, particularly in its military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. A “genocide” case has been filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and ICC prosecutors have requested arrest warrants for its leaders on charges of war crimes. • Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw): Accused by the UN of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocidal intent” for systematic massacres, burning of villages, and forced displacement policies against the Muslim minority in the Arakan (Rohingya) region. The Myanmar military is considered one of the most radical violations of international law. • Syrian Arab Armed Forces (Assad Regime): Accused of using chemical weapons against its own people, indiscriminately bombing civilian areas with barrel bombs, and systematically torturing prisoners throughout the Syrian civil war; these violations have been documented by UN chemical weapons inspectors and independent investigative commissions.
2. Past Major Violations by Regular Armies
Historically, many major states that define themselves as law-abiding today have also committed very serious violations of the ethics of war in the past:
- Nazi Germany (Wehrmacht and SS) and the Japanese Imperial Army: During World War II, they were the structures that most severely violated the laws of war in history with the Holocaust, concentration camps, medical experiments on prisoners, and mass killings in Asia (such as the Nanking Massacre), and were tried in the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials.
- US Army: It has been severely criticized by international human rights organizations for the My Lai massacre in the Vietnam War, the use of the chemical agent “Agent Orange”; the systematic torture in Abu Ghraib prison after the 2003 invasion of Iraq; and civilian casualties in drone operations in Afghanistan/Iraq.
3. Paramilitary Groups and Non-State Armed Structures
The obligation to comply with international law applies not only to regular armies but also to armed groups. However, these structures tend to completely reject international mechanisms and agreements:
- Wagner Group (Russian Paramilitary Structure): Accused of executions, torture, and looting of civilians in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Mali, and the Central African Republic; completely disregarding the laws of war due to its lack of formal military discipline.
- Terrorist Organizations (ISIS, Al-Qaeda, etc.): Completely rejecting the most fundamental principle of the laws of war, the “separation of civilians and soldiers,” they have gone completely outside the ethics of war with massacres, enslavement, and hostage-taking directly targeting civilians.
In summary,
Instead of labeling an army as “clean” or “completely guilty” from the perspective of international law, the actions of armies in concrete operations are examined. Although powerful states try to prevent their own armies from being prosecuted or facing sanctions by using their political and military influence, the actors listed above are the structures that stand out most for their violations in the reports of independent international institutions. Is there a specific period or conflict for which you would like to learn more detailed information regarding the laws of war or the judicial processes in international courts concerning these violations?
It is not possible to say that the Israeli army is the most moral army in the world at this time. What do you think, Gemini?
Considering international law, independent human rights reports, and concrete facts on the ground, it is legally and morally impossible to describe the Israeli army as “the most moral army in the world.”
The “moral” status of an army is evaluated not by its official statements, but by concrete data presented by impartial international mechanisms and courts. When examining the military operations of the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF), particularly in Gaza and the Palestinian territories, the international community and the highest legal authorities have made very serious assessments:
- Decisions and Processes of International Courts
- International Criminal Court (ICC): The ICC has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including “deliberately targeting civilians” and “using starvation as a method of warfare” in the Gaza conflict. Similar legal processes are also underway against other far-right ministers in the cabinet for their actions in the West Bank.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ): In a case initiated by South Africa, with several states, including many European countries, intervening, Israel is being tried for “violating the Genocide Convention.” The court has repeatedly issued binding measures ordering Israel not to obstruct the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and to protect civilians.
2. Violations on the Ground and Deviations from the Ethics of War
Reports from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch (HRW), and the United Nations have documented the following systematic violations in Israeli military operations:
- Disproportionate Force and Civilian Casualties: The violation of the principle of distinction (separating civilians from combatants), a fundamental pillar of the laws of war, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, women, and children.
- Destruction of Infrastructure: The systematic targeting of hospitals, schools, places of worship, and water and electricity infrastructure, completely depopulating the living spaces of a population.
- Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid: The use of hunger and famine as a weapon throughout Gaza, restricting access to clean water and medical supplies.
The Contradiction Between Rhetoric and Reality
The Israeli state and army define their military operations as “counterterrorism” and “self-defense” in their doctrine, blaming Hamas’s human shield strategy for civilian casualties. However, international law clearly states that the commission of war crimes by the opposing side (e.g., taking hostages or hiding in civilian areas) does not give a modern state the right to collectively punish the civilian population or use disproportionate force. Consequently, considering universal norms of the law of war, UN resolutions, and the arrest/trial processes of international courts, it is a globally accepted legal fact that the Israeli army is one of the armies that most severely violates standards of war ethics.
About the Author
