Freed hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, the Maccabi Tel Aviv-loving twins who endured 772 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, have attended their first football match since returning to Israel last month.
Standing on the pitch before kick-off at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium in front of thousands of fans, the brothers, clad in Maccabi shirts thanked supporters for “fighting” for them while they were in captivity.
The announcer welcomed the duo, saying, “It’s finally happening. How long we’ve waited for you,” according to Hebrew-language outlet Ynet.
A banner reading “So good to have you back” could be seen at the stadium, the report added.
“We’re standing here on the grass to say thank you for everything you’ve been to us over these two years,” the twins said, according to Hebrew-language outlet Sport5.
Captivity survivors Gali and Zivi Berman returned to Bloomfield Stadium for the first time - tens of thousands cheered: "Thank you for not forgetting us." Photo: Courtesy of the Football Leagues Directorate pic.twitter.com/C3c9P88BDR
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“You were there for our family and embraced us. You were an anchor for us, giving endlessly. You proved that Maccabi is a way of life. You also brought us two championships.
“We knew you kept on fighting, just like our family. We won’t forget the friends in the stands who are no longer with us, and the four fallen hostages who have not been returned for burial.”
They added that they had just been informed that the body of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin had been brought back to Israel to receive a “proper” burial.
They added: “We’re sending the family a huge hug from here. We want to thank the soldiers. Am Yisrael Chai.”
Goldin was killed in Gaza in 2014, and his body was held by Hamas until its release on Sunday.
Maccabi Tel Aviv presented the brothers with club shirts designed especially for them, with signatures from all the team’s players.
The match, against Beitar Jerusalem, ended in a stinging 6-2 defeat for Maccabi.
Rom Braslavski, another recently freed hostage and a devoted fan of Beitar Jerusalem, posted online: “6-2, too bad for Gali and Ziv.”
The Bermans were handed over by Hamas on October 13 as part of the Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire.
Following their release, a military helicopter that transported them to the Sheba Medical Centre in central Israel also passed over Bloomfield Stadium, where a large banner honouring their return was displayed.
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