Mr. President,
It's truly an honor to meet you. My name is Saphir, and I am the widow of Lieutenant Colonel Asaf Hamami, the highest-ranking officer taken hostage, who was among the first to take action and declare "we are at war." I'm representing the family members of the deceased hostages still in Gaza.
My son, Alon, who was only six years old at the time, spent the weekend of October 7 with his father at the Gaza Division base. When the war broke out, Asaf left him there and went into battle where he was killed and taken hostage.
First, I want to sincerely thank you for all your efforts. Words are not enough to express our deep gratitude and appreciation. If I may, Mr. President, I would like to share with you our greatest fear โ that not all the kidnapped, those who are no longer among the living, will be able to return home to be laid to rest in our homeland allowing us the certainty and closure we long for. ย With humility and respect, I have one final request: Please do not leave us behind until the last hostage is brought back to be buried in our homeland.
Thank you.
The above was conveyed by Saphir Hamami, the widow of Col. Asaf Hamami, when she met President Donald Trump on Oct. 13, 2025 along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the president addressed the Knesset.ย
