Hostage Survivor Omer Shem Tov Criticizes 'Incidental Damage' Narrative

Omer Shem Tov, who was held captive by Hamas for 505 days, has spoken out against the anti-Israel film 'No Other Land' (Nez'a), which recently won an award at the Venice Film Festival. In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, Shem Tov stated that hostages like himself were considered 'incidental damage' by both Hamas and, implicitly, by Israel's actions. He explained that if an Israeli bomb had killed him, Hamas would have achieved a double victory: his death and Israel being blamed. 'For 505 days, that's what I was,' he wrote.

Shem Tov recounted his experience during captivity, noting that while he feared Hamas and the conditions, he also feared the Israeli Air Force. He described how his captors would sometimes flee during anticipated Israeli strikes, leaving him behind. He also shared an anecdote where a Hamas militant told him his mother received a warning call from the IDF to evacuate her home due to potential strikes, while Hamas knew his location and left him in active combat zones.

He argued that Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties, through warnings and evacuation orders, came at a cost. These measures, he believes, exposed Israeli soldiers to greater danger and prolonged the captivity of hostages like himself. Shem Tov cited UN reports indicating that approximately 90% of casualties in populated areas result from explosive weapons, and estimated that for every Hamas militant killed, 1.5 to 2 Palestinian civilians died, a ratio he deemed low for such an urban conflict.

Shem Tov expressed his distress over the standing ovation the film received at Venice, calling it a 'hail of knives.' He contended that the film focuses on the suffering in Gaza but ignores the events of October 7th and Hamas's planning. He concluded by asserting Israel's right to prevent future attacks and that the nation should not be ashamed of its actions to ensure security, suggesting that even he, as a Jewish hostage, could be viewed as 'incidental damage' by those who question the morality of the fight to free him.