Israeli Berman twins reflect on 738 days in Hamas captivity and bonds with fellow hostages

The former hostages and twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman were among the last 20 living Israeli hostages who were released last month in a Gaza ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. After 738 harrowing days in Hamas captivity, Gali and Ziv gave their first interview since their October release on Sunday.

"It's a big change, but this is our moment to start life anew," Gali told the Israeli Channel N12. "Slowly, we have a family that surrounds us, friends, and we have each other. There's nothing more important than that. We have each other - that is our strength."

“Everyone has their own story – one was held here, another was held there. But ultimately we were all in the same place, in Gaza, held in captivity and under the control of people and terrorists,” Gali explained. 

His twin brother, Ziv, revealed that a unique bond was formed between the different hostages during the long captivity in Gaza. He told N12 that “we came together under unfortunate circumstances, but there is a connection, there is a common denominator.”

The Berman brothers were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from their home community Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7, 2023, and brutally taken as hostages into the Gaza Strip. 

They are among 16 former hostages who are scheduled to travel to the United States and meet Trump in the White House on Thursday. 

Like many other former hostages, Gali and Ziv credit President Trump for their release from Gaza. 

"He has always supported us, the entire war, the US supported us,” the Berman brothers said. “We want to tell him to continue to support the struggle and help the State of Israel."

Addressing Trump’s recent decision to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, the Berman brothers argued that “he is now going to bring the Saudis F-35s, but that does not mean that he will not continue to help us.”

The Israeli Air Force is currently the only airpower in the Middle East that has F-35 fighter jets. 

Ziv revealed that his message to the American president is “Thank you, and let’s not stop, let’s keep going.”

While the last living hostages were released last month, the Berman brother emphasized the need to secure the release of the remains of the last three hostages still being held by the terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza in violation of Trump’s ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire can not formally proceed to the next phase until all the remaining hostages have been released by Hamas and returned to the Jewish state. 

“Real reconstruction will begin when everyone returns,” Gali and Ziv assessed.

“Right now, our reconstruction is private – but real reconstruction, as a country, will only begin when the last of the hostages returns," they concluded, a sentiment that is shared my many former hostages, their families and the wider Israeli society. 

“Am Yisrael Chai” [the People of Israel live], we love you,” the Berman twins told Channel N12 in their concluding message to the Israeli people.