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Who is Omer Shem Tov?

Omer Shem Tov, 22, is set to be released by Hamas on Saturday, Feb.22. He is a resident of Herzliya who dreams of becoming an actor. On Oct. 7, he was kidnapped from the Nova festival along with siblings Itay and Maya Regev, who have since been released.

Released Hamas hostage Omer Shem Tov and his mother, Shelly, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, March 24, 2025. Photo by Avi Kaner/GPO.

Herzog meets released hostage Omer Shem Tov, calls for return of ‘all our sons and daughters’

Shem Tov was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists at the Nova festival during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and spent 505 days in captivity.

JNS Staff

March 26, 2025

Palestinian terrorists prepare to release Israeli hostages in southern Gaza's Rafah, Feb. 22, 2025. Photo by Saeed Mohammed/Flash90.

Israel redeems six hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza

The freed hostages are Eliya Cohen, Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham and Omer Wenkert.

Charles Bybelezer

Feb. 22, 2025

This six Israeli hostages set to be freed from Gaza on Feb. 22. Top, from left: Omer Shem-Tov, Tal Shoham, Eliya Cohen. Bottom, from left: Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, Omer Wenkert. Credit: Courtesy.

Hamas confirms release of six Israeli hostages on Saturday

Those being freed are Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu

Feb. 21, 2025

Freed hostage Eli Sharabi meets with his family upon returning to Israel, Feb. 8, 2025. Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit.

An open letter to the Portuguese foreign minister to Israel

The names and stories of Portuguese citizens taken by Hamas serve to ensure that they are never considered second-class Portuguese citizens.

Gabriel Senderowicz

Feb. 20, 2025

Israelis rally in Tel Aviv for the release of the remaining 76 hostages being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Feb. 8, 2025. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.

These are the six living hostages set to be freed on Saturday

The Hamas terrorist group agreed to double to six the number of hostages scheduled to be freed as part of the seventh release.

JNS Staff

Feb. 19, 2025

Family and friends of Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov, including his mother, Shelly Shem Tov (second from left) mark his second birthday in Hamas captivity, in Herzliya, on Oct. 31, 2024. Photo by Tal Gal/Flash90.

Son started observing the Sabbath in captivity, says Gaza hostage’s mother

“They took away his freedom but they can’t take away his faith,” Shelly Shem Tov told an audience at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

JNS Staff

Dec. 23, 2024