Rossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
Freed hostages Ziv (L) and Gali Berman, who were released from Hamas captivity, wear shirts of their beloved Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team. (Social media/used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Israeli soccer teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa welcome back their fans who were held hostage in Gaza, along with all of the 20 captives released today.
“Dear Omri, Gali and Ziv, we are so excited that you are coming back to us, we have missed you so much,” a representative of Maccabi Tel Aviv says in a video featuring the team’s players on its Facebook page. “We are waiting for you at the soccer field.”
Brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, as well as Omri Miran, are known to be fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv. The brothers are seen wearing blue-and-yellow jerseys in a picture taken on the IDF van just after their release, which was shared by the team.
Maccabi Tel Aviv also prepared a welcoming message for the released hostages and displayed it on the pitch of their Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, which the Bermans and Miran will be able to see as they fly overhead in a helicopter on the way to the hospital.
Maccabi Haifa also shares a message welcoming home Matan Angrest and Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
Friends of Angrest have been celebrating his return, sporting the jerseys and waving the green banners and scarves of the soccer team.
Friends and supporters of Matan Angrest celebrate his release by Hamas with green flares for his beloved Maccabi Haifa soccer team on October 13, 2025 (Screen grab/Channel 12)
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 13, 2025
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