Hamas laid bombs, then told hostage Omer Shem-Tov to detonate them on IDF soldiers 

Omer Shem-Tov, a survivor of Hamas captivity, revealed a chilling account of his 505-day ordeal in Gaza during an upcoming interview with Channel 12’s Uvda, set to air this weekend. Released nearly three months ago, Shem-Tov disclosed that Hamas terrorists ordered him to carry out a suicide attack against IDF soldiers. “They put booby traps in the house above the tunnel,” he recounted. “They said to me: ‘Omer, when soldiers reach this house, you blow it up.’ I told them: ‘No.’ They threatened, ‘If you don’t do this, we’ll shoot you in the head.’ I said, ‘Shoot me.’”

Shem-Tov’s defiance came amidst brutal conditions. His mother, Shelly, spoke at the Knesset’s Education Committee two months ago, describing the harrowing circumstances. “Omer returned home after 505 days in Gaza, and every day he’s home is a miracle,” she said. Initially held above ground with Itai Regev for 54 days, Omer narrowly escaped death when a dud bomb landed 50 meters away, marking his first “meeting with God.” After Regev’s release, Omer was moved to a cramped tunnel where he couldn’t stand or extend his arms, illuminated only by a small flashlight. “At first, he got a pita a day, then one biscuit and salty water,” Shelly explained. In his final five days, the flashlight battery died, leaving him in darkness, praying for rescue.

Miraculously, two hours after his prayers, captors removed him from the tunnel. A day later, a commander ordered his return, but a captor delayed until morning. That night, the tunnel was bombed, marking Omer’s second divine intervention. Shelly emphasized the urgency: “The hostages have no time. They’re physically and mentally abused. Our enemy is cruel, but we must first bring back the 59 hostages to embrace or bury them. Victory won’t come without them.” Shem-Tov’s account underscores the psychological torment and physical hardships endured, highlighting the critical need to secure the remaining hostages’ release.