Around three and a half months after returning to Israel from captivity in Gaza, brothers Gali and Zivi Berman recently experienced an especially moving moment with Maccabi. The 28-year-old brothers, who were held hostage in Gaza for 738 days were invited to travel with the team to the EUROPA League home game against Bologna, marking another significant milestone in their journey to recovery and return to life since their release from captivity on October 13th 2025.
Joining the Berman twins on the trip were their brother Idan; Yonatan and Ido Shamiriz, the brothers of the late Alon ‘Lulu’ Shamiriz, and Tom Damari, brother of Emily Damari – all of the participants are residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
Ziv Berman shared what the experience meant to him: “One of the truly emotional moments for me on this little trip was realizing that the players and the team genuinely care about us, that they really see us as family. That is not something to be taken for granted. It is amazing, it is amazing, it is just amazing.”
On the flight with the team to Serbia, Zivi added: “This is something I never imagined could happen. I can’t say it is a dream come true, because I honestly never even dreamed it could happen. But it exceeded all expectations. It is incredible.”
Berman also spoke about the power of football and Maccabi to their recovery: “Football is a second family as it is a first love. Football can take you to places you never imagined, joy and heartbreak alike. Finally, we are back, we are returning to the stadiums, back to Gate 11, and that is our victory, our greatest victory. There is nothing like Maccabi, never has been, never will be!”
On their connection to Maccabi’s players, Gali Berman, the “youngest” of the Berman twins, shared: “We are in close touch with Ido Shahar. He also lives quite close to us.”
Ziv added: “After the last match, Ido gave me his shirt. He is our closest connection. He has also been invited over for a barbecue.”
Tom Damari, whose sister Emily was release from captivity for 471 days on January 19th 2025, also gave his perspective on the trip: “Just over two years ago, I was in the lowest place of my life. I waited for death in the bomb shelter with my wife and daughters for long hours, and we didn’t believe we would survive what we went through. Today, thanks to all of you, we can fulfill dreams that, as lifelong Maccabi fans, we never believed we would be part of, even in our wildest dreams.”
“These moments, when we are wrapped in Maccabi and immersed in football, are our escape from a reality that is still very hard,” he continued. “These are the moments that give us the oxygen to keep going and progressing in our recovery. I don’t think I can truly convey the emotions I experienced during these two days. I can only say that the smile probably won’t leave my face for a very long time. Thank you for being there for us. Thank you for continuously surrounding us with another layer of sanity and optimism.”
Ido Shamiriz, whose brother Alon was taken hostage from Kfar Aza, managed to escape his captives but was tragically killed on December 15th 2023 by IDF forces “friendly fire” in Shuja’iyya, shared his experience: “The timing wasn’t ideal considering the team’s results over the past month and the coaching staff changes, but I felt that we had a mission, especially in times like these, to raise morale and show the players that we are a family, for better or worse.”
Ido, who October 7th stepped out of his Kfar Aaza home, picked a gun and began fighting with Hamas terrorists who raded his Kibbutz, said: “Going through this experience with Gali and Zivi is a dream in itself,” Shamriz added. “Being there with Idan Berman, Tom Damari, and my brother Yonatan is something you don’t take for granted, especially after what we have all been through, and what I personally went through with the Kfar Aaza emergency squad. Sadly, the perfect dream can’t come true without my brother, Alon, my hero, and his absence was felt, as it is in every moment I go through without him these past two years.”
“For me, football is an anchor. Going back to Bloomfield, to our seats in Gate 11, to cheer for the players, that’s stronger than any psychological therapy. Playing football is a form of healing, and nothing compares to that moment when you lace up your cleats and step onto the pitch. I’ve had the privilege of being captain of the Kfar Aza Foxes for the past two years. Playing alongside them, after they survived, each having lost someone, gives me a strength that nothing else can provide.”
