The nation was offered a moment of profound gratitude and resilience Saturday evening as Gali and Ziv Berman, twin brothers recently freed from Hamas captivity, released their first public video message. Recorded at the Sheba Medical Center just before their highly anticipated discharge, the video marked the twins' first social media statement since their release last Monday, October 13, 2025.
The brothers, abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the devastating October 7, 2023, terror assault, were held separately in Gaza for 738 harrowing days before being reunited upon their return.
A Message of Thanks and Unwavering Unity
The core of the message was a deep expression of thanks, directed at the immediate and extended support network that rallied behind them.
"To our amazing people, just before we are released from the hospital, we wanted to stop for a moment and say thank you to family, friends, and everyone who was there for us from afar and near," they began.
A particularly emotional thank you was extended for the unwavering support shown to their mother during their captivity. "A big thank you for being there for our mother, for supporting her. We felt it every moment, even in the tunnels, and it gave her and us the strength to continue," the twins stated, underscoring the vital, unseen connection that sustained them.
The brothers also took the opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by others, paying tribute to the hostages who did not survive and the families forever altered by the October 7 massacre.
"We will not forget the bereaved families, who lost the most precious thing to them on that damned day. We do not forget the abductees and the martyrs who have not yet returned home. Until the last hostage, we will not rest," they vowed.
They also extended their heartfelt appreciation to Israel’s security forces:
“Thanks to your sons and daughters, we and all the hostages [are] living at home. To the wounded in body and mind, and to our heroic soldiers, thank you for your courage, dedication, and heart. Thank you for fighting so that we could be here, so that we could hug, breathe, and live again.”
The message concluded with a powerful affirmation of national identity and resolve: "Don't forget, we are one people, and we have nowhere to go."
