IDF Division 162's Initial Response on October 7th Revealed

Details have emerged regarding the initial hours of Division 162, the largest armored division in the IDF, on October 7th, three years after the Hamas attack. The division was rapidly deployed south, with its forces moving towards the Gaza envelope and later taking responsibility for combat zones. Division commander Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, who had only been in command for about a week and a half before the attack, had noticed unusual developments in Gaza in the days prior and convened his staff. He instructed intelligence officers to gather more information and commanders to assess readiness for various scenarios.

As the Hamas assault began on October 7th, Division 162's command post was activated. Within hours, a decision was made to advance the division's forces toward Gaza, while other units were also mobilized southward. During the movement of armored personnel carriers and tanks towards the Gaza envelope, the death of the Nahal Brigade commander, Col. Yahnonatan Steinberg, in combat was reported. Cohen appointed his deputy, Col. Yair Zuckerman, to lead the Nahal Brigade, who then proceeded to the fighting near Kerem Shalom.

Later that day, Division 162 forces were dispatched to multiple locations in the Gaza envelope. As Gaza Division forces battled the Hamas onslaught, Division 162 assumed control of parts of the area, engaging terrorists in kibbutzim and outposts. The division was the first to enter the Gaza Strip that afternoon, around 4:30-5:00 PM, conducting a situation assessment near Kibbutz Sa'ad. An improvised command center was established in Moshav Zameret that evening to manage operations in the envelope, alongside the arrival of additional forces and preparations for continued fighting.

By nighttime, the division's command post reached Kfar Aza and Sderot, with documented assessments involving brigade commanders operating in those sectors. Approximately three weeks after October 7th, Division 162 participated in the ground maneuver in Gaza, initially operating in the northern Strip and then expanding to other areas with combined armor, infantry, and engineering forces, supported by the air force. The scale of forces under its command grew, with a peak of 13 brigade combat teams operating simultaneously.