Hostage Omer Shem-Tov Criticizes 'All That Breathes' Documentary

Omer Shem-Tov, a former hostage held by Hamas for 505 days, has penned an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal criticizing the documentary "All That Breathes," which he says omits the events of October 7th and Hamas's role in the current conflict.

Shem-Tov, who was abducted from the Nova music festival, described his experience in captivity, highlighting not only the fear of his captors and starvation but also the constant danger from Israeli airstrikes. He recounted a specific instance where the IDF warned a Hamas operative's mother to evacuate her home, while Shem-Tov himself, held by her son, remained in danger. "I was a hostage, starved and abused by her son, while my army tried to keep his mother alive," he wrote.

He explained that Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, including issuing warnings and attempting to facilitate evacuations, prolonged his captivity and increased the danger to Israeli soldiers and other hostages. Shem-Tov argued that Hamas could perceive destruction and death on both sides as a victory, as long as it provokes an Israeli response.

Referencing UN reports and Israeli military estimates suggesting a low ratio of Palestinian civilian deaths to combatants killed, Shem-Tov stated that these numbers reflect Israel's attempts to reduce collateral damage, despite the cost. He expressed distress over the documentary's focus on Palestinian suffering without acknowledging the Hamas atrocities that initiated the war, stating, "In this story, perhaps I too am collateral damage."

Shem-Tov concluded by asserting Israel's moral right to defend itself and prevent another October 7th, emphasizing that military strength must be underpinned by moral clarity.