Three Israeli hostages were recently freed by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel. In the town of Nuseirat, a ceremony was performed to turn over the captives, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen, to the Red Cross. An important turning point in the current truce negotiations in Gaza was the release.
Omer kisses two Hamas members.
At the release ceremony, Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov kissed the foreheads of two Hamas members as he waved from the stage as can be seen in the video. This was observed by several people, including his family, who were surprised at his good attitude given the situation.
⚡️#BREAKING Israeli “hostage” kisses the forehead of 2 Hamas members pic.twitter.com/Icg6TDEyEQ
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) February 22, 2025
Malki Shem Tov, Omer’s father, explained to The Times of Israel how his son behaved upon being released. “Omer is thinner… but is upbeat, upbeat, most positive-minded man in the world,” he mentioned. “We didn’t even know what he would look like. He just came out and surprised us all, with the smile, the wave — it’s just crazy.”
Family’s Reaction
Omer’s brother characterized his brother and remarked, “He’s always, always positive.” Malki Shem Tov further added to his comment, “That’s Omer, he’s just that kind of kid… He gets on with everyone. Even Hamas… They love him even there.” Amidst the problematic situation between Hamas and Israel, Omer Shem Tov’s upbeat attitude was a defining trait, even to those who were holding him as a hostage. Following the ceremony, a Red Cross convoy moved the hostages out of the proceedings.
This incident is an excellent example of how to find your silver lining in the dark clouds. Even in the hardest and darkest of situations, the main key to survival is to find a ray of happiness. Hope is the only ingredient that will make your dish taste good, all in all, it is like salt to any dish without it, the dish cannot taste good.
