# Hamas hostage captivity accounts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/hamas-hostage-captivity-accounts
> Updated: 2026-09-13T23:04:31.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3.

Following the October 7 Hamas attacks, survivors of the abduction and subsequent captivity in the Gaza Strip have begun sharing personal accounts of their experiences.

Mia Schem, a French-Israeli who was shot during the Nova music festival, detailed her 55-day captivity and her escape from the initial assault. 

Omer Shem Tov, who was abducted from the Nova music festival and released in February 2025, has released a Hebrew-language memoir titled ‘A Meeting with Myself in Hell.’ The book and subsequent interviews document his 505-day ordeal, which included extreme hunger, physical abuse, and intense loneliness. He specifically recounted spending 50 days in total darkness within a cell so small he could not stand upright. To cope with the isolation and ensure his eyesight remained functional, he used his imagination and a small flashlight briefly dropped by a guard. He also noted the psychological difficulty of being separated from fellow hostage Itay Regev, who was released earlier in November 2023.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-13: Omer Shem Tov recounts 505 days of captivity by Hamas

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov detailed his 505 days of captivity by Hamas, describing starvation, physical abuse, and 50 days spent in total darkness following his abduction from the Nova music festival.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/omer-shem-tov-recounts-505-days-of-captivity-by-hamas

### 2026-08-17: Omer Shem Tov releases memoir on 505 days in Hamas captivity

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov has released a memoir detailing his 505 days in Hamas captivity, including 50 days of solitary confinement in a dark cell.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/omer-shem-tov-releases-memoir-on-505-days-in-hamas-captivity

### 2026-07-19: Mia Schem recounts October 7 Hamas attack and 55‑day captivity

Mia Schem, a French‑Israeli survivor of the Oct 7 Hamas attack, was shot, taken hostage at the Nova festival and held for 55 days before release in a truce.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mia-schem-recounts-october-7-hamas-attack-and-55day-captivity

---
Cite as: Hamas hostage captivity accounts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/hamas-hostage-captivity-accounts