Omer Shem Tov recounts 505 days of captivity by Hamas

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov has detailed the physical and psychological hardships he endured during 505 days of captivity by Hamas in Gaza. Abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, Shem Tov was released in February 2025.

In recent interviews and his book, ‘Meeting Myself in Hell’, Shem Tov described experiencing extreme hunger, physical abuse, and intense loneliness. He highlighted the difficulty of being separated from fellow hostage Itay Regev, who was released earlier in November 2023.

Shem Tov recounted spending 50 days in total darkness within a cell so small he could not stand upright. He noted that while the isolation and anxiety were suffocating, he eventually adapted to the darkness by using his imagination. He also mentioned finding a small flashlight dropped by a guard, which he used briefly to ensure his eyesight remained functional.