Amanpour Protests, Suffering Mark 600 Days Since Hamas Attack
May 28, 2025
Omer Shem Tov recounts his harrowing experience as a hostage for over 500 days in Gaza, sharing his emotional journey through captivity and the complex feelings of guilt and hope. Jameel Jaffer discusses the urgent need for prioritizing hostages' safety during conflicts, while Leah Litman critiques recent judicial outcomes influenced by bias and partisanship. They also touch on humanitarian crises and the implications of U.S. policy shifts impacting international students and free speech.
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Guilt of the Freed Hostage
- Omer Shem Tov felt overwhelming guilt being free while 58 hostages remain captive in Gaza.
- Everyday activities trigger thoughts of suffering and survival of those still held hostage.
Surviving Underground Captivity
- During captivity, Omer was confined in a dark, small cell 40 meters underground, suffering hunger and asthma.
- He survived on minimal food and water, losing significant weight and enduring extreme isolation.
Captive Becomes Tunnel Caretaker
- Omer developed rapport with captors by offering to cook, clean, and maintain the tunnel.
- His efforts led captors to rely on him, treating him better and involving him in operations.
