After 500 Days of Combat: The 162nd Division has Transferred Command to the 252nd Division in the Security Zone in the Northern Gaza Strip

Today (Monday), the 162nd Division transferred the command of the security zone in the northern Gaza Strip to the 252nd Division. Since the beginning of the IDF's ground operations in Gaza on October 27, 2023, the division has operated continuously for 15 months, achieving significant successes across the entire Gaza Strip. 

The division’s troops dismantled terrorist infrastructure and terror tunnel shafts, and eliminated thousands of terrorists, including many that were involved in the October 7th terror attack.

The division lost 265 soldiers and commanders who fell in combat. The IDF embraces the bereaved families and will continue to accompany them.

With the transfer of command to the 252nd Division, the 162nd Division will continue to prepare for its future missions in accordance with operational necessities and subject to decisions made by the political echelon.

The Commanding Officer of the 162nd Division, BG Itzik Cohen, summarized the division’s operations:

"For 15 months, we fought on the frontlines of the IDF’s war—engaging in fierce combat, deep within terror strongholds, with unmatched determination. The 162nd Division has always been, and will always remain, at the forefront of the IDF, ready for any challenge. Throughout our journey, we carried with us the memory of the soldiers and commanders who fell—they were our spirit, and they gave us the strength to keep fighting. Alongside those we lost, we embrace the wounded—those who gave their bodies and souls for Israel’s security. We honor their strength, their resilience, and their daily struggle. You, the soldiers and commanders who fought with bravery—you are the victory generation."

Footage of the 162nd Division’s forces in the Gaza Strip

Photos of the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman and the Commanding Officer of the 162nd Division, BG Itzik Cohen, During a Situational Assessment in the Field

Archive Photos From the Operations of the 162nd Division’s Troops in the Gaza Strip