Emotional reunion of Israeli twins goes viral as Hamas releases hostages captured in October 7 attack

Before their abduction, the brothers worked as lighting technicians.

Hamas freed several Israeli hostages under the Gaza ceasefire arrangement, handing them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Among those released were twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, whose reunion photographs have drawn widespread emotional reactions online.

The Embassy of Israel in London shared images of the siblings on its official X handle, writing, “Gali and Ziv Berman, free and back home.” The pictures captured the twins’ return after more than a year in captivity.

According to reports, Gali and Ziv had been abducted on October 7, 2023 from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities struck during the Hamas assault that killed several residents. Their older brother, Liran Berman, told CBS News that this period had been “the longest the two have ever spent apart.” He added that although their personalities differed, they shared a close bond and usually spent most of their time together.

@GPOIsrael pic.twitter.com/ZGmoYAWv0p

— (@IsraelinUK) October 13, 2025

It is believed the twins were held in separate locations after being taken from the kibbutz. Gali was captured when he left his safe room to assist a neighbour, armed only with a kitchen knife, while Ziv was taken after their house was set ablaze.

For several days, the family had no confirmation of their whereabouts or condition. About a week later, they learned that both brothers were alive but had been taken as hostages.

Before their abduction, the brothers worked as lighting technicians. Reports stated they coordinated their work schedules with their father’s needs, as he lives with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Under the first stage of the US-brokered ceasefire plan, Hamas released all living Israeli hostages, as reported by the BBC. In return, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.