Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu says Col. Assaf Hamami, who had been missing since Oct. 7, was killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) walking during a hearing at the Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion on January 23, 2023. (Photo by ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday that a missing Israeli colonel was actually killed on October 7.

"Tonight it finally became clear that Col. Assaf Hamami, a hero of Israel, fell in a battle on October 7th," Netanyahu said. "Assaf was the southern brigade commander in the Gaza Division."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Hamami was 41 years old and from Kiryat Ono, near Tel Aviv.

"Two weeks ago I met with his family," the prime minister explained. "We prayed together for a different result and unfortunately this result did not materialize."

"Assaf was a hero to all of us," he added. "May his memory be a blessing."