Brigadier General Barak Hiram took over as commander of the division on Monday, replacing Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld. The ceremony of the change of command took place symbolically inside the Gaza Strip, near Beit Hanun. The change of command follows lessons from the events of October 7.
“The Southern Command and the Gaza Division have been fighting for about 11 months in a war that has started suddenly. A war that began with a great failure, on our part. Since then, we have been fighting day and night to win and restore security to the residents of the settlements and the citizens of Israel,” said the commander of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, “we will continue to fight – for the dismantling of Hamas, for the return of our Hostages, for the sake of the residents and the settlements.”
“We are standing here with the fighters of the division who are defending the communities surrounding the city of Sderot. We are in the midst of a war that began with a great failure, with a surprise attack by the enemy, in which the residents of the area and the division forces fought bravely a few against many for many hours until the attack was stopped at a heavy and painful cost of blood,” the outgoing commander, Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld, said in a statement. “Since then, we have worked in the division to create a buffer between us and the fierce enemy, and not allow any terrorist to enter Israeli territory.”
“We must continue to act to fundamentally change the security situation in Gaza so that there is no longer an armed army of terrorists on our border, and the threat of Hamas will be removed,” he added, “at the same time, we have a supreme duty to do everything possible to bring all the hostages home as quickly as possible.”
“We are determined to achieve the goals of the war. We will continue to fight until the Hamas terror organization collapses, until the hostages return to their homes safely,” the new commander of the Gaza division, Brigadier General Barak Hiram, declared, “Protecting the residents of the surrounding area is a division mission. Together we will work to restore security and trust and return the residents to their homes. I believe with all my heart in the men of the division in their professionalism and in their ability to fulfill the great tasks that are before us.”
Brigadier General Barak Hiram, born in 1979, brings with him a rich and varied experience for his new role. He began his military career as a lone soldier in 1997, when his family was on a mission to Venezuela. Although he began his service in a pilot course, he found his place in the infantry, joining the Golani Brigade and then the Egoz unit.
Hiram’s impressive military career includes various command roles, including the commander of the 51st Battalion, the commander of the Golani Brigade, and the commander of the Golan Brigade. In 2020 he was appointed commander of the Golani Brigade, a position he served until 2022. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in August 2022 and was appointed commander of The Barak Division (99).
Hiram was especially prominent during the surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. He quickly arrived in the fighting area, took command of forces from various units, and fought hard battles in places such as Alumim and Be’eri. His performance on the ground was praised in a subsequent military investigation.
During the Iron Swords War, Hiram led the 99th Division in fighting in Judea and Samaria and then in the Gaza Strip. Under his command, the division fought in the southern part of Gaza City and in the central camps, killing terrorists and destroying underground infrastructure.
Hiram’s appointment as commander of the Gaza Division was confirmed by Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on July 30, 2024, after a period of examination and discussion. Upon taking office, Hiram will face significant challenges in a complex and sensitive sector.
Hiram, who lives in Tekoa, is married to Bat Zion and the father of four. He holds a bachelor’s degree in military history from the Hebrew University and a master’s degree in business administration from Ben-Gurion University.
Upon taking office, Brigadier General Hiram is expected to bring extensive combat experience and proven command capabilities to the Gaza Division, in a period characterized by complex security challenges in the region.
