Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi in a letter to members of the military on Wednesday said they should carry on fulfilling their missions and know that the IDF will always have their back.
Kochavi slammed the decision by the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes calling it an decision taken with no validity or authority.
"We will not allow any foreign institution to interfere with our defensive actions," Kochavi said, "and certainly not to put those serving in the IDF at legal jeopardy."
"Keep carrying out you missions with dedication in a professional and responsible manner," he wrote. "Continue serving with determination and in keeping with our values and remember the IDF will always have your back," Kochavi wrote.