Gali and Ziv Berman, twin brothers from the kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel, are marking a year since their release from captivity in Gaza, where they were held hostage following a deadly assault by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023. The attack, which began on a Jewish holiday, left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and about 250 taken hostage, triggering a prolonged and devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The brothers, then 26 years old, were seized during the cross-border attack that targeted border communities and an outdoor music festival. In captivity, they endured severe conditions, including starvation, beatings, and confinement in underground tunnels, often held separately. Both lost significant weight and suffered physically and emotionally throughout the ordeal. They were among the last 20 hostages to be freed, their liberation occurring two years after their capture.

Upon release in October 2025, Israeli forces brought them out of Gaza into a landscape of loss and destruction. Kfar Aza itself had been heavily affected; more than 60 residents were killed and many others abducted. The brothers learned their close family members had survived, though their home community had been largely devastated. Their parents had relocated to Beit Gurion, farther from the Gaza border, and the reunion was deeply emotional.

Since their return, the Bermans have been working to rebuild their lives amid lingering trauma. Gali resumed his education in law, governance, and diplomacy, while Ziv entered a new relationship with a fellow survivor of the music festival attack. Both have received medical care, including dental treatment for Ziv, who had been unable to maintain basic health during captivity. They have also traveled internationally, engaging with Jewish communities and sharing their experiences to raise awareness of the conflict's human toll.

The brothers’ transition back to daily life has been marked not only by personal recovery but also by public attention. They have taken part in commemorations of the attack’s anniversary and celebrated milestones such as their 29th birthdays with family, friends, and other former hostages. Yet their freedom feels incomplete; for a time, the body of the last captive, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, remained in Gaza, underscoring the ongoing pain for the families of those lost in the conflict.

Their captivity was part of a larger and complex conflict. The initial Hamas assault, described by Israeli authorities as the deadliest day in the country’s history, provoked a fierce military response from Israel, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza. The fate of hostages, some of whom died in captivity or were killed during rescue attempts, remains a painful chapter for many Israelis.

Reflecting on their ordeal, the Bermans emphasize the enduring impact of the experience but also their determination to move forward. They maintain close ties to each other and their loved ones and continue to cherish simple normalcy, such as following their favorite soccer team, Maccabi Tel Aviv. While they acknowledge the permanent imprint of their captivity, they are focused on life after trauma, seeking to embrace second chances amid a nation still grappling with the consequences of ongoing conflict.