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In Passover message, Herzog urges immediate release of hostages

The Israeli president visited the family of twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, who were abducted by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog attends the swearing-in ceremony for 35 judges at his official residence in Jerusalem on April 10, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog attends the swearing-in ceremony for 35 judges at his official residence in Jerusalem on April 10, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, on Monday visited the family of twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, who were abducted by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7, 2023, and have been held in Gaza for 557 days.

In a video message released during the visit, Herzog called for their immediate release, describing the brothers as “wonderful and caring young Israelis” held “in the dungeons of Gaza.”

“On the second day of Passover, the festival of freedom, Michal and I paid an emotional visit to their family’s temporary home,” Herzog said. “This must be the immediate and supreme demand of all who believe in freedom.”

He added, “They—together with all the hostages—deserve freedom, and they must be released at once.”

Joshua Marks is a news editor on the Jerusalem desk at JNS.org, where he covers Jewish affairs, the Middle East and global news.
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