From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Relatives of freed hostages Gali and Ziv Berman: ‘We’re breathing clear air again’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Maccabit Meyer and Liran Berman, aunt and brother of released hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, offer statements at Sheba Hospital on Tuesday night.
Meyer, one of the main representatives of the family over the last two years, says the twin brothers were separated for the first time in their lives on October 7, 2023, and were reunited on Monday.
“For the first time in two years, we’re breathing clear air again,” says Meyer. “We didn’t know we could feel this kind of happiness.”
Meyer thanks US President Donald Trump and his team, and the nation of Israel.
“Gali and Zivi returned to each other and to us,” says Meyer. “They’re on their feet and smiling, and now the healing will begin.”
Their older brother, Liran Berman, who also speaks in English, thanks all Israelis for never giving up, “We have no words to thank you, you’re on the right side of history.”
His aunt also thanks the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and the Shift 101 silent weekly sit-in community, calls President Herzog “an anchor,” as well as hostage envoy Gal Hirsch, and the Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Beit Guvrin communities.
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