Gaza Strip: Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a negotiated deal. Among them was Omer Shem Tov, whose actions during his release drew major attention. He kissed two of his captors on stage and blew kisses to the crowd before being freed after more than 500 days in captivity. However, after returning home, Shem Tov clarified that he had acted under duress. According to a report by the Daily Express, he claimed, “I was told to do so.”
His father further said that Shem Tov’s captors had instructed him to behave that way. “They compelled him to wave and kiss the masked guard standing beside him,” he told Kan TV, as cited by The Times of Israel. He added, “You can see in the video that someone approached him and gave instructions.”
Shem Tov’s release occurred more than a year after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The assault resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals, who were taken to Gaza. Shem Tov, along with two other men, had been captured while attending the Nova music festival in Israel’s Negev Desert.
Prisoner release delayed
Israel has delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, saying it will only happen once the next group of Israeli hostages is safely freed and without public celebrations during the handover, AP reported. The announcement came early Sunday from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Military vehicles that usually lead prisoner buses left Ofer prison but later returned.
The release of 620 prisoners, planned after six Israeli hostages were freed on Saturday, would have been the largest one-day release under the current Gaza ceasefire. The delay has raised concerns about the future of the truce. The Palestinian Authority’s prisoner commission confirmed the delay, saying it would continue “until further notice.” In the West Bank, families waiting in the cold were seen leaving, with some visibly upset.
