Two years have passed since Hamas took twins Gali and Ziv Berman hostage during the October 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 remains alive, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, but the names of two hostages believed to be dead have not yet been announced.
As talks continue between Hamas and Israel on the possible 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 have been for a long time … that we can reach an agreement,” he said. of the latest peace talks, currently underway in Egypt.
The talks come after Hamas responded positively to President Donald Trump’s proposal for peace in Gaza, although it said more negotiations would be needed before a full deal could be signed.
Liran Berman said she hasn’t received any confirmation that her 28-year-old siblings are alive since February, but she is hopeful.
“They are alive, they are strong, they are surviving,” he said. “They are survivors.”
“I want to tell you that I’m sorry it’s taking so long,” he added.

Ziv Berman appears in this undated photo.
Hostage Families Forum

Gali Berman appears in this undated photo.
Hostage Families Forum
Liran Berman said she feels guilty for not being with her younger siblings when they were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack. He said he also feels guilty for being able to enjoy the freedom of every day.
“This is the guilt I live with. And I promised them that I would be an uncle to their future children and that I would do whatever it took, no matter how long it took,” he said.
Defending his brothers brought Liran Berman into the spotlight, a spotlight he said he did not want, but said he will carry out his mission until all 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.”