IDF Col. Asaf Hamami, Murdered on October 7 and Taken to Gaza, is Laid to Rest

Two days after his body was returned from Hamas captivity in Gaza, thousands gathered at Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery on Tuesday for the funeral of fallen IDF Col. Asaf Hamami, the highest-ranking officer killed and abducted on October 7, 2023.

President Isaac Herzog, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir were among the mourners who came to pay final respects to the 40-year-old commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade.The ceremony opened with the chilling radio transmission from Hamami on the morning of October 7, as fighting erupted around Kibbutz Nirim: "This is war."

Speakers described him as a humble warrior and family anchor. “Behind the uniform stood a man of immense humility,” one eulogist said. “Asaf wasn’t just a fighter, he was a symbol of dedication, love, and faith in our cause. To his family, he was the rock that gave everyone a sense of security and belonging. Though the pain of your absence is unbearable, know that you left behind a legacy and inspiration that will guide us all.”

President Herzog: "You Died a Hero’s Death"

Herzog, visibly moved, told the crowd: “You’re finally home after more than two years in the hands of murderers. That cursed morning, you were the first to know it was war. As always, you were the first to arrive, to charge forward, to engage the enemy. You fought with everything you had, shoulder to shoulder with your men Tomer and Kirill, may their memories be blessed, to save the people of Nirim and the western Negev. And you fell together, a hero’s death, in the battle of light against darkness.”

Though he never met Hamami in life, Herzog said the nation learned of his greatness through his loss. “I was deeply touched when a soldier’s pardon request reached me recently, with Asaf’s recommendation. It showed the kind of man he was: someone who believed in second chances. We need more leaders like Asaf Hamami. These are the people the nation looks to with faith and hope.”

Turning to the family, wife Sapir, children Ela, Alon, and Arbel, parents Ilan and Clara, and brother Eitan, Herzog added: “We’ve come to know you, and we’re inspired by the light and hope your family radiates, and by all the memorial initiatives in his name. Nothing can heal this terrible pain, but I hope this closure brings some comfort. Three times grief has struck your family across generations. I pray you know no more sorrow. As Israel’s president, I salute you and bow my head and promise that Asaf’s legacy will live on in the hearts of future generations.”

IDF Chief: “Victory Was Achieved”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir praised Hamami’s cool-headed courage: “You embodied the perfect blend of boldness and calm, even in the darkest moments of battle, until the very last drop of blood. You led from the front, living the essence of the IDF spirit.”

He painted a picture of renewal in Nirim: “The fields are harvested again. A new avocado packing house was inaugurated. Water reservoirs are being built. Families moved into new homes, holding babies who will grow up in the community you and your soldiers fought to protect. Rest in peace, warrior. Victory was achieved. We will keep fighting and winning with the same unity that ensures our survival. From here, we carry your command: ‘Be good, be Hamami.’ Forever.”

Mother Clara: “You Came Home, But Not the Way We Wanted”

Clara Hamami, fighting tears, spoke directly to her firstborn: “Asaf came home, not to the home we wanted, but to rest. I stand here in pain, trying to grasp a moment no mother should face: eulogizing you, burying you, laying you to rest, not in a loving embrace, but in the ground. After 758 days of waiting, hope, prayer, and silence, our beloved son, for whom rank meant nothing, a hero of Israel who fell in a legendary battle, has returned to his homeland.”

She recalled the knock on the door two years ago, and now again: “How do you write a eulogy instead of a birthday card? Who will send me those words that made any day better? You came home wrapped in the Israeli flag and the endless love of an entire nation weeping with us.”

Clara apologized for not being there in his final moments: “If I could climb the clouds, I’d tell you: You left behind light without end. Eight hostages are still there, bring them home now.”

She closed: “You reminded us that impact isn’t measured by rank, but by humility and the ability to touch hearts without a word. Thank you, our beloved son, for the human tapestry you wove around us, one that still wraps us in light and love. A mother’s love is the greatest love. I love you and will never stop missing you.”

Father Ilan: “We Kept Only Part of Your Will”

Ilan Hamami revealed a conversation from Asaf’s early officer days, his “will”: “If I’m ever captured, I don’t go in alive. And don’t make deals for me.”

With a broken voice, he admitted: “Asaf, we only fulfilled part of your request. You didn’t fall alone. You weren’t taken alone. And so a deal was made.”

Hamami, killed defending Nirim on October 7, was the first to declare war over the radio. He leaves behind his parents, brother, wife, and three young children. His body was returned Sunday alongside two other fallen soldiers in a prisoner exchange.

Eight more IDF hostages’ remains are still held in Gaza.