From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Ziv and Gal Berman get heroes’ welcome at Beit Guvrin with cheers, flags and songs
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
Released hostages Ziv and Gal Berman come home to a large crowd of family, friends, neighbors and other well-wishers, as they are brought to Kibbutz Beit Guvrin, the community where the family has temporarily relocated and the home of their aunt, Maccabit Meyer, a familiar face in the struggle to bring them home.
People at the scene carry Israeli flags and yellow hostage flags, as well as banners of Maccabi Tel Aviv, the brothers’ favorite soccer team.
The twins lean out of the car as it slowly drives down the street, blowing kisses and waving at the crowd, clearly overwhelmed by the attention.
They sing with the crowd, call out their thanks, and hug and kiss the people they know.
תראו אותם, גלי וזיו ברמן.
שום ״ניצחון מוחלט״, סלוגן מרוקן מתוכן שמכרו להמונים, לא היה שווה את הקרבתם, לא היה שווה את העינויים שעברו החטופים בשבי ולא את נפילת מיטב בנינו על מזבח הישרדות הקואליציה.
היה אפשר להשיב אותם קודם ובמחיר חיי לוחמים נמוך יותר. רק על זה צריכה לקום ועדת… pic.twitter.com/Nz8qoE09LR— ????️????????חגית קלימן – Hagit Klaiman????????????️ (@klaiman14) October 19, 2025
“You guys are crazy people!” says Gal. “We have no words.”
They hold their own hostage poster when it is pushed into their hands, taking photos but deflecting most questions that are asked of them.
“We love you, we love you!” says Ziv.
They join in singing “Am Yisrael Chai,” the Maccabi Tel Aviv cheer and other Hebrew songs of belief and faith.
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