Images of Omer Shem Tov greeting his kidnappers viralize on social networks
One of the Israeli hostages kissed the head of 2 Hamas members when released in this Saturday (22.Fev.2025). During a ceremony at the Nusorde Refugee Field, in the center of the Gaza Strip, Omer Shem Tov, 22, smiles, waves to the public and affectionately greets his kidnappers.
Watch:
JUST IN: 🇮🇱🇵🇸 Israeli soldier held captive kisses forehead of Hamas members before being released.
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo)
Along with him, another 2 hostages, 27 -year -old Eliya Cohen and 23 -year -old Omer Wenkert attended the public event. The 3 took the stage after the Red Cross signed the transfer documents. Everyone wore military uniforms and waved to those present.
The 3 hostages were kidnapped at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023.
At the bottom of the stage set by Hamas, there was a poster with a quote from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the phrase: “Only military pressure can return the hostages” (in free translation). Underneath, Hamas’s answer: “Bibi .. don’t press… relax” (in free translation).
Shem Tov’s gesture repercussions on social networks. Some netizens see kisses as spontaneous gestures and others as demands from Hamas.
For those wondering about ‘that kiss’ by hostage Omer Shem-Tov, please don’t fall for the Hamas propaganda.
There was nothing voluntary, or done out of affection. You can see in the video, he was dazed and confused (understandable after all he went through), and then forcibly…
– Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@ostrov_a)
After watching the release of Omer Shem Tov, in an interview with your family says that the young man ” is the most positive person in the world ” and that ” gets along with everyone, even with Hamas. ”
More Liberation Ceremonies
Hours before liberation in noseirat, another 2 hostages, Taham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39, gained freedom in Rafah, in the far south of the Gaza Strip. They also went through a liberation ceremony.
Different from the 37-year-old Hóham Al-Sayed, which was released on Saturday (22.Fev.) In the north of the Gaza Strip, but without a public event. The Israeli suffers from schizophrenia and was arrested by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in April 2015.
In exchange for the 6 hostages, Israel agreed with the release of 602 Palestinian detainees. The measure includes 60 prisoners who are serving long sentences, 50 with life imprisonment, 47 that were released as part of the exchange in 2011 by Gilad Shalit and more than 100 who will be deported immediately.
