Omer Shem Tov

Omer Shem Tov is a former Israeli hostage who was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and held captive in Gaza for 505 days. His ordeal, including reports of abuse and his refusal to cooperate with captors’ demands to harm others, were widely covered in major news outlets and made him a symbol of the ongoing hostage crisis and its impact on Israeli society. Just after his abduction, Shem Tov's parents became among the founding members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His uncle traveled to the Red Cross headquarters in Geneva to petition for medical assistance on his behalf. Following his release in February 2025, Shem Tov traveled internationally to advocate for the release of remaining hostages, appeared at public events, and met with political leaders.