During a Constitutional Committee hearing in the Knesset today (Tuesday), Michvit Meyer, aunt of kidnapped twins Gali and Ziv Berman, played a recording from the day of the October 7 attack. In the recording, Gali is heard telling his mother he was going to protect Emily Damari - who was released earlier this week.
This is a partial transcript of the heartbreaking conversation:
Talia Berman (Gali and ZIv's mother): "Are you seeing these messages I'm sending? There's an infiltration happening at the kibbutz and Ashkelon beach."
Gali: "You're kidding, right Mom?"
Talia: "No - they're saying terrorists are coming in with paragliders. Are you watching TV?"
Gali: "No."
Talia: "Everyone needs to lock themselves in their safe rooms and shelters immediately. They haven't specified which kibbutz, but there's active shooting - can you hear it?"
Gali: "Yes, I can hear gunfire out here. But I need to go to Emily - she's terrified."
Talia: "Emily? No, you need to lock yourself in the shelter right now. Do you hear the shooting?"
Gali: "Yeah, it's somewhere nearby. But she's so scared..."
Talia: "Stay where you are until she comes to you."
Gali: "No, I'm going out to her."
Talia: "They're telling everyone to stay locked in their rooms!"
Gali: "I know, but she's dying of fear."
Talia: "Okay Gali, text her to open her door for you - then run to her place and lock up immediately."
Gali: "I'm grabbing my bags. She's calling me from there."
Talia: "Gali, don't—"
Son: "Thanks. Bye."
Talia: "Bye..."
This was the last conversation between Gali and his mother before he was taken captive. He was kidnapped together with his brother Ziv from Kfar Aza on Simchat Torah last year and are not expected to be released in the current phase of the hostage deal.
Meyer showed a photo of Emily alongside Gali Berman taken on the morning of Simchat Torah, shortly before they were taken to Gaza.
"Emily returned the day before yesterday," Meyer said, displaying the photo. "Here's Emily, the hero, and nothing makes us happier than seeing her in the arms of her mother, Mandi, and her siblings. There's no greater joy."
"They're from the same village and were kidnapped together," Meyer continued, her voice breaking. "Emily the hero has returned, and Gali the hero, and his brother Zivi the hero are still there, still there, and I want - I want - I want this picture too," she concluded while holding up a photo of Damari with her relatives taken after her release this week.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
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