Former hostage Omer Shem Tov recalls loneliness, hunger, abuse during Hamas captivity

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov, abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and held for 505 days, shared his experiences of loneliness, hunger, and abuse in Hamas captivity in a recent interview with Maariv, following the publication of his book, Meeting Myself in Hell. He described the profound isolation, especially after being separated from fellow hostage Itay Regev, stating, "For me, loneliness was the hardest thing." Shem Tov also recounted enduring 50 days in a tiny, dark cell and the constant hunger, where he and Regev would "dream about meat." He detailed an incident of physical abuse and being coerced into a staged release ceremony, where he was forced to kiss a captor. Since his release in February 2025, Shem Tov has traveled, lectured, and studied, aiming to use his experience to offer "tools and guidance, light and hope" to others, while emphasizing that the soldiers are the true heroes.