"Thank God for Everything": Hostage Survivor Omer Shem Tov Reflects on 505 Days in Captivity 

Almost one year after regaining his freedom, Omer Shem Tov, who was held hostage by Hamas for 505 agonizing days, has shared a raw and emotional public message, thanking God for his survival and the soldiers who fought to bring him home.

Shem Tov returned to Israel in February 2025. Now, as he approaches the one-year anniversary of his release, he took to social media to reflect on the journey from the darkness of the tunnels back to the light of daily life.

"There are days when it all sinks in deep," Shem Tov wrote, describing the complex process of rehabilitation. "Suddenly you truly understand everything you went through and everything that happened while you weren't here."

He described sitting at home, watching archived videos of his family, friends, and the general public fighting for his release during his captivity. The overwhelming emotion, he says, is gratitude.

Shem Tov directed his first words of thanks to the security forces. "Thank you, first and foremost, to the soldiers and reservists who went out and risked their lives just to bring us home."

He also paid a somber tribute to the families of the fallen: "Thank you to the bereaved families. Thanks to their loved ones who fell, our country is protected, and citizens can sleep quietly in their homes."

Recalling the time he spent "stuck in the tunnels," Shem Tov thanked his friends for keeping his presence alive. He mentioned a mural of his face painted in Herzliya, which became a gathering spot for his circle.

"To my friends, who to this day, every time I see a video of them sitting next to my giant painting in Herzliya... they simply made me part of their gathering. Every time I see that, I shed a tear."

He credited his family with saving his life after his return. "Thank you to my mom for the warm hug, to my dad for the push to get up and make a change rather than sinking into depression, for Dana's listening ear, and for the laughter of Amit and Shelly."

Despite the trauma, Shem Tov expressed a profound sense of optimism and faith.

"Thank you to the Almighty (Hakadosh Baruch Hu) for everything that was and everything that will be," he wrote. "I am excited to wake up every day anew for another adventure in this beautiful world of ours."

He concluded the post with a reminder that the mission is not over, mentioning Ran Gvili, who remains in Gaza: "We are waiting and praying for the return of Ran Goili home. We will not rest until he returns."