You don't just bounce back from 738 days of absolute darkness. When twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman stepped out of captivity and back into the sunlight after being abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, the world watched with collective relief. But freedom isn't a light switch you flip. It's a brutal, disorienting process of relearning how to exist in a world that didn't stop spinning while you were gone.
For two years, the twins endured starvation, isolation, and psychological torture, often held in separate locations with no knowledge of each other's survival. Now that they are back on Israeli soil, the real battle begins. Adjusting to freedom means confronting the phantom sounds of captivity, rebuilding shattered routines, and figuring out how to laugh again when the past is never more than a heartbeat away.
The Long Road From Kfar Aza to Reconnection
The horror started early on that October morning when waves of terrorists stormed Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Gali left his safe room armed with a kitchen knife, hoping to defend his home, before he and others were violently dragged across the border into the Gaza Strip. Ziv was captured separately from his own home nearby.
For months, their family lived in agonizing uncertainty. Their mother, Talia, faced moments of profound despair, while their brother Liran became a relentless advocate on the global stage, fighting for their release. When intelligence finally confirmed they were alive, it was a fragile lifeline.
Even after their release, the separation trauma lingered. Held in different tunnels and subjected to grueling conditions, the brothers didn't share every moment of their captivity, which means their mental scars are deeply personal. Ziv is known for his dry humor, while Gali handles the heavy lifting, but both have had to face the reality that returning home doesn't instantly erase the psychological chains.
What Normal Life Looks Like After 738 Days
Reintegration is messy. You can't simply step out of a concrete cell and pick up your old job, your old hobbies, or your old mindset. Sleep schedules are ruined by hypervigilance. Sudden noises trigger adrenaline spikes that make legs shake uncontrollably.
The Bermans have made it clear they want to move forward. They are surrounded by family, friends, and the tight-knit community of survivors who understand the unique brand of trauma carried by October 7 hostages. But normalcy is an illusion built one tiny, frustrating step at a time.
Here is what the actual recovery process involves for survivors of long-term captivity:
- Rebuilding Trust: Learning to feel safe in enclosed spaces, open fields, or even your own bedroom takes intense psychological support and time.
- Physical Rehabilitation: Overcoming nutritional deficits, muscle atrophy, and injuries sustained during abduction requires dedicated medical intervention.
- Processing Survivor's Guilt: Many who return struggle with the knowledge that others are still missing or did not make it back.
Moving Forward Without Forgetting
Ziv and Gali have repeatedly emphasized that they refuse to let the misery define the rest of their lives. They are leaning into their bond as twins—their ultimate anchor—while leaning on the support of their relatives.
Yet, the emotional toll remains heavy. Their story isn't a Hollywood movie with a neat, happy ending where the credits roll as soon as the doors open. It's a daily, grinding effort to reclaim agency over their own minds and bodies. Freedom is a gift, but learning how to use it safely is the challenge that defines the years ahead.
