Laban family
Col. Assaf Hamami, commander of the southern brigade in the Gaza Division, is considered the first to declare war. Hamami, who quickly understood the dimensions of the event, came with two of his fighters, Tomer Ahimas and Kiril Brodsky, to Kibbutz Nirim. They fought battles with terrorists until they were killed and the bodies abducted to Gaza.
(Right) Kiril Brodsky, Asaf Hamami and Tomer Ahimas. Photo: IDF Spokesman
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Col. Assaf Hamami, commander of the Southern Brigade of the Gaza Division, stayed Saturday Simchat Torah at the base. His 6-year-old son was staying with him. Upon hearing the alarms, he entrusts the son to the situation room and heads towards Nirim with two of his fighters, signaler Tomer Ahimas and the fighting driver Kiril Brodsky.
Hamami realizes the extent of the events and declares war on the military radio communication system: “Guys, turnabout, we're at war. It's all right, war, let's go!“. He requests residents to go into protected spaces, calls up security squads and ask to send tanks to the border.
Hamami and his soldiers enter the main gate of Kibbutz Nirim with the help of residents who open the gate for them. At that hour they are the only military force that is there, facing dozens of terrorists who have already invaded the kibbutz. One of the residents testifies that as soon as they entered the kibbutz, Hamami was wounded and supported by his two soldiers.
Tomer and Kiril carry the injured Hamami towards the football field. They find a shelter, hide in it and try to take care of Hamami while trying to fight off the terrorists.
A shooting battle involving grenades begins between the Nukhba terrorists and Hamami and his fighters. According to various reports they were three in front of dozens.
Tomer makes a tourniquet for Hamami. He manages to write the time 6:54. Since no blood marks were found on the tourniquet, it is assumed that Tomer did not succeed to put it on his commander on time.
Kiril and Tomer call out to the situation room and ask for rescue for their commander. They report several times that he is injured (“flower”). “Brigade commander flower, must evacuate immediately, now! “, Tomer asks, but no one answers the radio communication system. This is the last time a live signal is received from the three.
A few hours after the battle, a documentation from Gaza is received in which the Jeep of Hamami and his soldiers is seen. For days, no one knew what had become of them. In the following weeks, their story will be censored.
More than a month and a half after the incident, it was declassified that Kiril and Tomer were killed on October 7 and their bodies were abducted to Gaza.
The day after the announcement of their death, and even though their bodies are being held in Gaza, the funerals of Tomer and Kiril are being held, accompanied by thousands of people. Tomer's sister said: “For a few weeks now I've been seeing a white butterfly in the house. He accompanies me wherever I'm going. I knew it was you, I hoped that the butterfly would signal to me that even though you are in captivity, your soul is free and in a little while, you, too, will be free and come home.” Kiril's mother thanked him: “You defended the Land of Israel, as you wanted. You said every child should enlist and contribute to the country. You are a hero and you will always be in my heart.”
Military censors also allow publication of the death of Hamami, who fell with his soldiers on October 7 and whose body was abducted to Gaza.
Although his body is abducted to Gaza, the military rabbinate authorizes to hold a funeral. Thousands arrive to bid farewell to the revered commander.
As part of a military operation in Khan Younis, the bodies of Sgt. Kiril Brodsky and Sgt. Tomer Ahimas are returned to Israel along with three other kidnapped bodies.
Kiril Brodsky (right) and Tomer Ahimas
המתחם האינטראקטיבי של מפת העוטף ב-7 באוקטובר 2023 נועד לתעד ולהנציח את האירועים שהתרחשו ביישובי עוטף עזה באמצעות תיעודים מזמן אמת, דקה אחר דקה.
הפרויקט בהליכי בנייה ותחקיר, בשלבים הבאים יתווספו נקודות רבות על המפה, לרבות בסיסי צה”ל, הרחבת אזורי המסיבות והדרכים המובילות לעוטף.
לפרטים נוספים וליצירת קשר לחצו כאן
אזהרה: התוכן מכיל תיאורים ותיעודים קשים לצפייה
