Freed Hamas Hostage Omer Shem-Tov Recounts Humiliating Captivity, Forced Kiss
Omer Shem-Tov, who endured 505 days in Hamas captivity, has shared a detailed and candid account of his ordeal in an interview with Sheri Makover-Blikov for the Israeli newspaper Maariv. Shem-Tov described his abduction at the Nova music festival, the harrowing moment he was forced by Hamas propagandists to kiss a terrorist during a staged "liberation ceremony," and his subsequent struggles with shame and fear.
He recounted how, just before being presented to cameras, a terrorist instructed him to kiss the person next to him. Despite his initial refusal and fear of angering his captors, he was compelled to kiss the terrorist on the forehead. He told himself that he would return home, leaving the humiliation behind. Shem-Tov admitted that this incident deeply troubled him when he reunited with his parents, fearing their judgment. However, they reassured him, understanding the coercion involved. Later, others told him his visible resistance during the forced kiss was seen as an act of courage.
Shem-Tov also spoke about learning of the death of Sabai Abu Hasna, the terrorist who held him captive for over a year and forced him to perform the kiss. He was in Central Park, New York, at the time. While he expressed relief that the man responsible for his suffering was dead, he stated it did not fundamentally change his life, as he had already moved past the trauma. "I left the evil behind," he said.
According to the interviewer, Shem-Tov appears happy, having reconnected with friends, bonded with other former hostages, traveled, and begun acting studies in the U.S., a lifelong dream. His first book, "Meeting Myself in Hell," is set to be released. Initially hesitant to write, feeling there were already many books by former hostages, he decided to proceed, hoping to offer guidance and hope to others experiencing crises. He believes the book has helped him process his experience.
Shem-Tov expressed a desire for anonymity after his release, wishing to be known for his acting aspirations rather than his captivity. He dislikes being pitied or called a hero, stating that true heroes are the soldiers and reservists who fought for his release. He spent 505 days in near-total isolation and darkness in an underground tunnel, enduring starvation, limited water, and cramped conditions. He described loneliness as the most difficult aspect of his captivity, more so than physical deprivation. Shem-Tov was released on February 22, 2025, as part of a deal with Hamas.
