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Twin Israeli brothers, held hostage by Hamas and believed to have been separated during captivity, embraced for the first time in more than two years after they reunited on Monday.
Ziv and Gali Berman, 28, were all smiles as they hugged in disbelief upon being handed over to the IDF as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas on Monday.
Crowds of cheering Israelis greeted the twins and other released hostages outside Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan following their return.
The brothers waved and smiled at the crowd of supporters as they arrived.
The brothers — who worked together as lighting technicians — were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Oct. 7 terror attack, where 11 of the 37 residents were murdered, the Jerusalem Post reported.
They were among the seven taken hostage.
It wasn’t revealed that they were taken alive until over a week after the massacre, and they weren’t confirmed to be alive until February, the Berman family said.
The brothers “were separated in captivity and injured,” former Israeli hostage Keith Siegel said after his release in July, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Before being taken hostage, the hardworking brothers were known for their devotion to their family, even scheduling their shifts around their father’s care as he suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and dementia, their mother, Talia, said.
Ziv — the oldest of the twins — “knows how to enjoy life and has style,” his mother said.
“He always works, takes every possible shift, comes home at dawn, and leaves again in the morning, but he enjoys it,” she said, adding he also has a reputation as a prankster.
Gali stood out for his “charm that melts hearts,” his curiosity, his unwavering determination, and his uncanny ability to fix anything, she said.
The twins were released in the first group of seven Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross and returned to Israel.
Among the brothers were Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran, and Matan Angrest.
Following their release, Hamas released the second wave of Israeli hostages, consisting of 13 people, to the Red Cross.
The IDF said the recovered hostages will be reunited with their families following medical checks.
