“We Must Bring Everyone Home”: President Herzog Meets Hostage Survivor Omer Shem-Tov

Israel’s President Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog met with Omer Shem-Tov, who was recently released from the evil Hamas captivity after being held for 505 days in Gaza. Omer was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and became a symbol of resilience and hope for many Israelis. His parents led tireless efforts for his release alongside the families of other hostages.

At the meeting, President Herzog expressed joy at Omer’s return and emphasized the urgent need to bring home all those still held hostage.

“We are overjoyed to see you back home,” the president told Omer. “You entered the hearts of all Israelis, just like all the hostages whose pictures are here. We want to see every single one of them return home — until the very last one.”

Herzog warned against the dangers of internal strife within Israeli society: “Every time we clash, every time decisions drag us into a whirlwind of internal conflict — it breaks us apart. It’s incredibly dangerous. We have brothers 40 meters underground. How can anyone breathe at such a depth? We must do everything to bring them home.”

Omer Shem-Tov shared a powerful message with the Israeli public, urging unity: “We need to bring everyone back home. One thing I ask of the people of Israel: unity, unity, unity. That’s the message my mother carried throughout this entire period. When we had access to television in captivity, they [Hamas] showed the division in Israeli society — in the most extreme way possible. That gives them strength. They say Israel will collapse from within — and that’s what empowers them.”

Omer’s mother, Sheli Shem-Tov, echoed her son’s plea: “I’ve always said that our beauty lies in our differences — but our strength lies in our unity. And Omer said it himself: when they see us fighting among ourselves, that’s their fuel to keep going. I want to say that responsibility lies with those in leadership. Just like we, as parents, lead by example for our children, so must our leaders lead by example for the nation.”

Sheli continued: “Ultimately, it’s also the personal responsibility of each one of us. It’s okay to disagree — that’s natural, that’s democracy. But when we speak from a place that’s not about blaming each other, then we can open our hearts and truly listen.”

President Herzog concluded with a message of empathy and hope: “As our sages said: ‘Do not judge your fellow until you’ve reached their place.’ We will never truly understand the hell you and your fellow hostages went through. All we can do is pray that it ends soon — that everyone comes back. Pesach is near, the Chag of freedom and renewal. We want to see them all home.”