Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday spoke with the family of Colonel Asaf Hamami, one of the three Israeli soldiers whose bodies were recently returned from Gaza by Hamas through the Red Cross.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu conveyed his condolences “on behalf of himself, his wife, and the entire people of Israel,” adding that he “embraces the dear family during this difficult time.”
Col. Hamami’s mother, Clara Hamami, expressed gratitude to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the nation’s security agencies, and the prime minister for their efforts in ensuring her son’s body was brought home for burial.
Colonel Hamami, aged 40, served as the commander of the IDF Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade.
He was killed while fighting Hamas militants near Kibbutz Nirim on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel. His body was taken into Gaza and had remained there until its recovery on November 2, 2025.
He is survived by his wife, their three young children, and his parents.
Netanyahu is also expected to speak with the families of Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel and Captain Omer Neutra, the two other fallen soldiers whose remains were returned alongside Hamami’s.
The Prime Minister’s Office reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to bringing home all hostages, both living and deceased, still held in Gaza, as part of the ongoing US-brokered ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas.
