“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.
“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.
