Brother of 2 Israeli hostages fights for their return: 'They're survivors'
It's been two years since twins Gali and Ziv Berman were taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. Their brother, Liran Berman, has been fighting every day to get them home.
Forty-eight hostages -- including 26 publicly confirmed dead-- remain in Gaza. Both Gali and Ziv Berman are among the hostages who may still be alive. Twenty hostages are thought to still be alive, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, but the names of two hostages who are believed to be dead have yet to be announced.
As talks between Hamas and Israel continue about the potential release of the remaining hostages and a ceasefire, Liran Berman expressed optimism in an interview on ABC News Live on Tuesday.
"We are more hopeful than we've been for a very long time ... that we can strike a deal," he said of the latest peace talks, currently under way in Egypt.
The talks come after Hamas responded positively to President Donald Trump's proposal for peace in Gaza, though said more negotiations will be needed before a full agreement can be signed.
Liran Berman said he has not received any confirmation that his 28-year-old brothers are alive since February, but he has hope.
"They are alive, they’re strong, they’re surviving," he said. "They’re survivors."
"I want to say to them that I’m sorry that it’s taking this long," he added.
Liran Berman said he suffers from guilt that he wasn’t with his younger brothers when they were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack. He said he also feels guilty that he gets to enjoy the freedom of each day.
“This is the guilt I live with. And I promised to them that I would be an uncle for their future kids, and I will do whatever it takes, no matter how long it will take," he said.
Advocating for his brothers propelled Liran Berman into the spotlight -- a spotlight he said he did not want -- but he said he'll see his mission through until all of the hostages are freed.
"This is not what I signed up for, this is not the life I wanted for myself," he said. "And I will do it, I will do it until the end, until the last hostage ... but I want to be anonymous again."
