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Gal Hirsch (Hebrew: גל הירש; born 1964) is an Israeli former military commander and author. As Brigadier General, he commanded the 91st DivisionofIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) during the 2006 Lebanon War.[1]
Gal Hirsch
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|---|---|
Gal Hirsch
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| Native name |
גל הירש
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| Born | 1964 (age 59–60) Israel |
| Allegiance |  Israel |
| Service/ |  Israel Defense Forces |
| Years of service | 1982–2007 |
| Rank |  Tat-Aluf (Brigadier General) |
| Unit | Paratroopers Brigade |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | |
Hirsch served as a paratrooper in the Paratroopers Brigade and later joined the elite Shaldag Unit, eventually becoming the unit's commander during special operations in Lebanon.[1]
Hirsch commanded the 91st Division of the IDF during the 2006 Lebanon War. After the war, he was widely criticised, having had direct responsibility for the abduction affair and the battles of Bint Jbeil and Ayta ash-Sha'b, in which the IDF failed to occupy the two towns in spite of suffering high casualties. He was forced to resign a few months after the war.[2][additional citation(s) needed]
On October 8, 2023, one day into the Israel–Hamas war, Hirsch was appointed by Prime Minister Netanyahu to coordinate the cross-governmental response to missing Israeli citizens,[3] i.e. civilians and soldiers abducted as hostages by Hamas into Gaza.
As of May 2022[update], Hirsch was a senior fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism.[4]
In January 2017, he was awarded the Exemplary Graduate Award by the Association of Military Boarding Schools, for his exemplary work in the IDF and in civilian life.[citation needed]
In April 2020, he volunteered to serve as chief of staff to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Elad.[citation needed]
