Col. Asaf Hamami, 40: Witty commander ‘did not hesitate for a moment’

Col. Asaf Hamami, 40, from Kiryat Ono, the commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, was killed fighting Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nirim on the morning of October 7, during the terror group’s onslaught on southern Israel.

For eight weeks he was considered a Hamas hostage, until the IDF confirmed his death on December 2, officially listing his status as a “fallen IDF soldier held captive by a terror group” and his date of death as October 7. Asaf’s death was declared by the chief rabbi, based on findings obtained by the military in the Gaza Strip. The findings allowed Asaf to have a funeral at the time according to halacha, or Jewish law.

On November 2, 2025, his remains were returned to Israel from Gaza by Hamas. He was buried on November 4, 2025, in Tel Aviv.

Asaf is survived by his wife Saphir and their three children, Arbel, Alon and Ella, his parents, Clara and Ilan, and his brother, Eitan — who was named for their uncle, Eitan Hamami, who was killed in an IDF accident in 1985.

On the morning of October 7, as Hamas launched its assault, Asaf was spending Shabbat at the Gaza Divison base near the border with his 5-year-old son, Alon. Asaf handed his son to other soldiers to take him to a safe place and set out to battle the terrorists.

He was remembered by his family and friends as a funny and witty officer, always wanting to be first, and his love for his family.

Asaf, the oldest in his family, was born in Ariel and later moved to Rosh Ha’ayin, where he attended high school. After graduating, Hamami enlisted in the IDF in 2001, joining the Givati Brigade and earning a spot in its prestigious reconnaissance battalion. He completed an officer’s course and became a team leader in the battalion, then a company leader.

In 2012 he was appointed commander of the Rimon commando unit, and a year later he was tapped as deputy commander of the Shaked Battalion. In 2015 he became the deputy commander of the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade, and a year later became commander of a battalion in the Givati Brigade.

Asaf established and commanded Oz Brigade training school from 2018-2020, when he was appointed commander of the Negev Brigade. In 2022, Asaf became commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, which he held until his death.

During his military service he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Haifa in politics and national security studies. In 2009, Asaf married Saphir, and they lived in Petah Tikva for 10 years before settling in Kiryat Ono in 2019.

The commander of the Gaza Division, Brig. Gen. Avi Rosenfeld, eulogized him at his initial funeral, saying: “You were purely a human being, purely a commander, purely a warrior.”

“The way you fought and fell defined who you were. Family was so important to you, every time you talked about them it was hard to miss the smile and the sparkle in your eyes. Perhaps your consolation is that he fell as a hero,” Rosenfeld said.

Asaf’s wife, Saphir, said he was “the perfect, most suitable partner for me. The deal between us was that you take care of the country and I take care of everything else.”

“Not many know how funny you are, how witty you are. Thank you my love for 17 years of great love. Thank you for the children, thank you for a whole life. My heart is broken and crushed, but also at peace with your decision, because what hurts me so much today is also what made me fall in love with you,” she added.

His mother, Clara said she recalled when Asaf was first drafted to the military to the Givati Infantry Brigade in 2001. “How much you wanted to grow up and join the army. You were so excited when you wore the green army uniform,” she said. “You considered yourself equal among equals… you did not ask for glory and honor.”

Asaf’s father, Ilan, said he always “strove to be first.”

“You were born to be a good friend and a pleasant person. When you enlisted, you joined the Givati ​​Brigade. We were all very proud of you and knew that there was a commander with values ​​like yours in the army who cares for his soldiers and subordinates,” he said.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Asaf never hesitated. “Those who knew Asaf, as a subordinate, a commander, and a friend, always knew that where danger lurks and it is necessary to engage, that is exactly where Asaf would be found.”

“That’s where he was there during his 22 years of service in the IDF, and he was also there on the day the war started on October 7. As soon as word of the terror onslaught became known, Hamami did not hesitate for a moment,” Gallant said.

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