Ziv Berman

At the time of Hamas' attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7th, Ziv was alone at his house in this farming community near Gaza, while his twin brother and best friend Gali was assisting a neighbor trying to stay safe amid the confusion caused by the attack.

Ziv's friend, Noa Reuveni was in contact with him via WhatsApp during the attack. Ziv, hearing Arabic from outside, expressed his fear to Noa, and she reassured him that Israeli military forces were on the way. She urged him to stay quiet and locked in his room.

Tragically, the last message Noa sent to Ziv, "I'm with you," has not received a reply, and no one has heard from Ziv since that moment. His body was not found among the casualties in the Israeli village, and ultimately the Israeli military informed his family and friends that he and his twin brother were being held hostage in Gaza, along with approximately 200 to 250 others.

Ziv is described as a caring and sensitive person who always puts others before himself. He was working for a company involved in lighting and sound for concerts and events, and he also helped care for his disabled father.

Ziv's mother Talia, disabled father Doron, and older brother Idan managed to escape and were rescued by the Israeli military. Ziv's other older brother Liran was with his wife at their home, approximately 90 miles north of Kfar Aza. Noa Reuveni, deeply affected by her friend's disappearance, volunteered to serve in a command unit for the Israeli army upon her return to the country.

Ziv's house was burned down by the Hamas terrorists during the attack, and the village suffered significant casualties, including the murder of several dozen babies and children. On the same day, Hamas launched attacks on other sites in Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people and sparking a regional conflict.