Gaza Division
Encyclopedia
The Israel Defense Forces
Gaza Division (Territorial), is subordinate to the Southern Regional Command
. Its area of operation is the Gaza Strip
and the area surrounding it. The division's commander is Brigadier-General Eyal Eisenberg
, who replaced Moshe Tamir on 19 November 2008.
The Gaza Division had been entrusted with the safety and security of Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip
after the Six-Day War
in times of peace and armed conflict. In August 2005, the division, along with the rest of the IDF, officially ended its presence in the Gaza Strip as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan
when Jewish settlements were dismantled. However, the Gaza Division has repeatedly entered the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks from Palestinian militant groups based in Gaza.
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
Gaza Division (Territorial), is subordinate to the Southern Regional Command
Israeli Southern Command
The Israeli Southern Command , often abbreviated to Padam is a regional command of the Israel Defense Forces. It is responsible for the Negev, the Arava, and Eilat. It is currently headed by Aluf Tal Russo.-History:...
. Its area of operation is the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
and the area surrounding it. The division's commander is Brigadier-General Eyal Eisenberg
Eyal Eisenberg
General-Major Eyal Eisenberg is a general in the Israel Defense Forces; currently the head of the Home Front Command. He led the Israel Defense Forces Gaza Division during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict....
, who replaced Moshe Tamir on 19 November 2008.
The Gaza Division had been entrusted with the safety and security of Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
after the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
in times of peace and armed conflict. In August 2005, the division, along with the rest of the IDF, officially ended its presence in the Gaza Strip as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan
Israel's unilateral disengagement plan
Israel's unilateral disengagement plan , also known as the "Disengagement plan", "Gaza expulsion plan", and "Hitnatkut", was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government on June 6, 2004 and enacted in August 2005, to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from...
when Jewish settlements were dismantled. However, the Gaza Division has repeatedly entered the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks from Palestinian militant groups based in Gaza.
Units
- Northern Gaza Territorial Brigade ("Gefen")
- Southern Gaza Territorial Brigade ("Katif")
- 585th Bedouin Desert Reconnaissance Battalion
- Gaza Division Signal Battalion
- "Abirey ha-Plada"/"Knights of Steel" Heavy Engineer Company