It has been a long and agonizing 150 days for the families of the hostages still inside Gaza, and every hour now feels like a lifetime as negotiations for a new ceasefire progress slowly.
Liran Berman's two brothers, Ziv and Gali, were taken from Kfar Azza on October 7. The twins are being held separately in Gaza, according to testimony from released hostages who saw them.
“They were separated early on, but I still think they feel each other,” Liran told me when we met near the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem. “The twins have a special bond so they can feel each other.”
“We don't have video of the kidnapping, and we don't have visual confirmation from Gaza, only from the released hostages. So we don't have anything.
“They are very strong, they have the ability to get out of trouble, they have a very good sense of humor, but they are in hell.
“But in hell they have the ability, I hope, to handle everything.”
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Talks are continuing In the Egyptian capital, Cairo, however Israel Israel has so far refused to send a delegation in protest against Hamas' refusal to disclose information about the living and dead hostages.
“I'm very focused,” Liran said. “I try not to listen to the news, only official announcements.
“Hope is the last to die, we only have hope, and it gives us so much strength.
“We only know through a deal my brothers will return.”
The wait is taking a toll on families who have been living for nearly five months with little information about the whereabouts or status of their loved ones.
“I don't have the luxury of letting myself down,” Liran said.
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He continued: “I have two young children, and I have a wife. I'm not the best husband, I'm not the best father, but I'm doing everything I can to keep my focus on releasing myself and my siblings.” I'll treat myself once they're here.
“It's not easy – not easy at all. The hardest times are at night. You're alone with your thoughts. I only sleep with the medicine. I worry about the next day, about the effects of what I'm doing on myself. But I'm not in a position to give up on it now.” “.
Despite widespread criticism and protests from hostage families who feel the government should do more, Liran supports the Israeli government's efforts to repatriate his brothers.
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Zev and Galli Berman were taken from Kfar Azza on October 7. Photo: Berman family
He said, “I am confident that Israel is doing everything in its power to release the hostages.”
“Life goes on, and unfortunately, people move on, and there are other struggles in the world.
“This is a humanitarian crisis. My brothers are civilians. They were kidnapped from their beds while on vacation while wearing their pajamas.
“They have nothing to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – nothing. Life moves on – people tend to forget, but we will not allow anyone to forget.”
