Freed Hostage Omer Wenkert tells his mother: "Look what I brought you from Gaza's Duty Free"

In their first day of freedom, two of the recently released Israeli hostages shared touching moments with their families, offering glimpses of resilience after their captivity in Gaza.

Omar Wenkert surprised his mother Niva with an unexpected gesture shortly after their reunion at Re'im. "Right after our first hug, when the crying and excitement calmed down, Omar said 'Wait mom, I brought you a gift from duty free' and pulled out halva," Niva wrote in a social media post, sharing a photo of the halva.

Meanwhile, Omar Shem-Tov, freed after 505 days in captivity alongside Wenkert and Elyah Cohen, marked his return by posting his first complete family photo on Instagram. Quoting Eminem's "Without Me," he captioned the image "Guess who's back."

Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert were released yesterday (Saturday) marking the final phase of the first stage of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The handover took place across multiple locations in the Gaza Strip, with Shem Tov, Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen released in the central Nuseirat refugee camp, while Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were freed in Rafah, and Hisham al-Sayed in Gaza City.

The releases occurred in staged ceremonies overseen by Hamas’s Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, who presented the hostages alongside armed fighters before transferring them to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In Nuseirat, Shem Tov, Wenkert, and Cohen appeared on a makeshift stage at noon, with Shem Tov seen waving and kissing the heads of two masked fighters—actions his father, Malki Shem Tov, later said were directed by his captors. The three were then transported by helicopter to hospitals in Israel for medical evaluations and family reunions.

Shem Tov, 22, and Wenkert, 23, both abducted from the Nova Music Festival during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, had been held for 505 days. Shem Tov’s family reported he lost 17 kilograms (37 pounds) and spent approximately 450 days in solitary confinement in a tunnel, seeing no daylight until shortly before his release. Wenkert, who suffers from colitis, endured similar isolation, with his diet limited to as little as three dates daily, according to his mother, Niva Wenkert. Upon arriving at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Wenkert waved and blew kisses from the helicopter, while Shem Tov reunited with his parents, telling them, “I’ve dreamed of this moment so many times.”

The ceasefire deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, has been under strain, with Israel delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for Saturday. Israeli officials cited the “humiliating ceremonies” staged by Hamas as a violation of the agreement, pointing to the forced participation of hostages in propaganda events. A Hamas video released later that day showed two captives, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, watching the Nuseirat ceremony from a vehicle—an act condemned by Israeli authorities as psychological manipulation.

Families of the released hostages expressed relief and joy. “I saw Omer—now everything’s fine,” said Amit Shem Tov, Omer’s brother, describing him as walking and talking despite his ordeal. Shai Wenkert, Omer’s father, called his son a “victor” who overcame captivity, reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing upon their reunion. At Beilinson Hospital, a Havdalah service marked the end of the Jewish Sabbath for Shem Tov, Wenkert, and Cohen, surrounded by loved ones.

The six hostages—Shoham, Mengistu, Shem Tov, Wenkert, Cohen, and al-Sayed—represent the last living captives slated for release in this phase. Mengistu and al-Sayed had been held for over a decade, having entered Gaza under unclear circumstances years prior, while the others were taken during the October 7 attack that killed over 1,200 people and saw more than 250 abducted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “decisive action” to secure the release of remaining hostages, estimated at over 100, including those believed dead. Hamas has not commented on the next phase of the ceasefire, which remains uncertain as both sides navigate ongoing tensions.

In Israel, celebrations erupted among friends and relatives. At Shem Tov’s family home in Herzliya, supporters gathered to watch his release, while in Gedera, Wenkert’s friends danced in anticipation of his return. Medical staff at Beilinson Hospital noted the hostages’ “extremely difficult” conditions in captivity but withheld specifics at the families’ request.