Israel Bids Farewell to Col. Asaf Hamami, Remembered for Courage and Sacrifice

“If I fall into captivity, I will not come back alive. And one more request — do not make deals over me.”

By United with Israel Staff

A large crowd gathered Tuesday at Tel Aviv’s Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery to honor one of Israel’s bravest soldiers, Col. Asaf Hamami, as he was laid to rest following the return of his body from Gaza.

For more than two years, Hamami’s body had been held by Hamas after he fell defending the nation during the Oct. 7 massacre.

Mourners gathered to pay their respects to a leader whose courage and dedication became emblematic of the Israel Defense Forces. He is survived by his wife, Sapir, and their three children: Alon, Ella, and Arbel.

Hamami’s heroism on October 7 was extraordinary. Stationed at the Re’im base, he entered the operations center as mortar fire struck and quickly recognized an incident developing near Kibbutz Nirim.

He left moments later with his command post and, upon assessing the situation, saw that multiple terror raids were underway. He was the first to declare, “We are at war,” over the radio, ordering all units along the fence and rapid-response teams to engage immediately.

Hamami led from the front, confronting the enemy alongside his troops, giving his life in defense of Israel.

At the funeral, President Herzog eulogized Hamami as a fearless leader who was first to act, charging into battle alongside his soldiers to protect Kibbutz Nirim and the western Negev, falling as a hero in a fight of light against darkness.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir also praised Hamami’s leadership and composure under fire: “We are at war, it is all right, war. That is how you declared over the radio, the first to understand the situation and take action, ordering an entire sector to readiness. You combined courage and composure, even in the most difficult moments on the battlefield, down to your last drop of blood. You led the battle from the front, embodying the very essence of the Israel Defense Forces.”

Hamami’s mother, Clara, spoke through tears: “You 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 reflected on the long wait and the unbearable grief: “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.”

Hamami’s father, Ilan, shared a memory of his son as a young captain in the Givati Brigade: “If I fall into captivity, I will not come back alive. And one more request — do not make deals over me.” Ilan said, “Asaf, we have only partially honored your request. You did not fall alone, and you did not enter captivity alone, and that is why a deal was made.”

The funeral was a somber yet proud occasion, a moment for Israel to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice of a soldier who fought with honor and unwavering dedication. As Hamami, was laid to rest, the nation remembered him not only as a commander but as a symbol of courage, duty, and love for his homeland—a hero whose legacy will continue to inspire generations of Israelis.