“The Country Can Only Rehabilitate When They Are All Home”
On the eve of their visit to the White House, recently freed hostages Ziv and Gali Berman shared a message filled with gratitude, urgency, and unshakeable resolve. The twins, kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, and held for two years in Gaza, are among the 20 hostages released in last month’s ceasefire deal. Now, they are asking the world — and especially the United States — not to look away.
The brothers will meet President Donald Trump on Thursday. Speaking in New York this week, Ziv told Channel 12 what he plans to say:
“Thank you, and let’s not stop, let’s keep going.”
For these young men, gratitude and determination live side by side. They know what it means to survive captivity. They know the cost of waiting. And they know what it means for three families who still do not have their sons’ bodies back.
Their message is simple: the fight must continue until every hostage — every single one — is home.
Gali added his own words of thanks:
“He always supported us. The entire war, the US supported us and the State of Israel.”
He acknowledged the newly announced US-Saudi F-35 agreement but said it did not shake his trust:
“That does not mean that he will not continue to help us. We want to tell him to continue to support the fight and help the State of Israel.”
The brothers spoke the names of the three captives whose bodies remain in Gaza:
Dror Or, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, and Sudthisak Rinthalak of Thailand.
“There are still hostages there, and we are here to convey the message that we need to bring them back,” Ziv said.
A Family Forged in Darkness
The twins described the deep bond formed among the hostages during their captivity — a family born not from blood, but from survival.
“We came together under unfortunate circumstances, but there is a connection, there is a common denominator,” Ziv said.
Gali explained it more simply:
“Everyone has their own story… but ultimately we were all in the same place, in Gaza, held in captivity and under the control of people and terrorists.”
Released only weeks ago, the Berman brothers are now navigating life in a world that continued without them.
Ziv described the disorienting transition:
“It is a big change to be in New York… but even going out in Tel Aviv is a big change after we were in Gaza.”
Gali said their strength comes from the people who never stopped praying for them:
“We are surrounded by family and friends, and we have each other. There’s nothing more important than that.”
The twins were held separately during captivity. Now they are rebuilding life side by side.
“Real rehabilitation will only begin when everyone returns”
Their most powerful words came at the end. Even though they are free, their hearts are still tied to the tunnels of Gaza — to those left behind.
Ziv said:
“Real rehabilitation will only begin when everyone returns. Right now, our rehabilitation is private, but the real rehabilitation, as a country, will only begin when the last of the hostages is back.”
And then, a message to the people of Israel — the same people who prayed them home:
“Am Yisrael Chai. We love you.”
Their courage is a reminder that Israel’s strength is not only in its army, but in its people — in families who will not stop fighting, not stop hoping, not stop praying until every captive is home.
Source: The Times of Israel,
“‘The country can only rehabilitate when they are all home’: Freed hostage twins ahead of Trump meeting,”
November 18, 2025.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-country-can-only-rehabilitate-when-they-are-all-home-freed-hostage-twins-ahead-of-trump-meeting/
