Israeli Hostage Kisses Hamas Fighters After Release; Family Reacts

Israeli Hostage Kisses Hamas Fighters After Release: The situation overrides the bill of other issues concerning national sovereignty; Now, I am telling you back with a report saying Hamas releases three Israeli hostages to the ICRC. One of the hostages shockingly kissed the forehead of two of his captors, about a year and a half after he was taken hostage by them.

As the first phase of the hoped-for end of the Gaza ceasefire nears completion, the three Israeli hostages-Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen-were released. They had been paraded on stage by armed men from Hamas, waving to the cameras and holding their release certificates.

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In a viral clip, Omer Shem Tov was seen smiling and grabbing the back of a head of a masked Hamas gunman and then kissing him right on the forehead with swiftness. Another masked gunman on stage had the same treatment. Cheers erupted among the crowd.

⚡️#BREAKING Israeli “hostage” kisses the forehead of 2 Hamas members pic.twitter.com/Icg6TDEyEQ

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) February 22, 2025

Omer's grandma Sara told Israel's channel 12 that it was no one's characteristics since he was a very jovial fellow. "That’s Omer. He gets on with everyone. Even Hamas… They love him even there."

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His father Malki Shem Tov called his son "the most positive-minded in the world". "Omer is thinner… but is upbeat, upbeat, the most positive-minded in the world. We didn't even know what he would look like. He just came out and surprised us all, with the smile, the wave — it's just crazy,” he told Channel 12.

According to the IDF, all three hostages Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, and Omer Wenkert spent 505 days in captivity with Hamas.

While many on social media speculated that the kiss was staged by Hamas gunmen, others chose to see the silver lining in the exchange, hoping that this gesture could symbolize lasting peace in the region after this harrowing conflict. "Let’s hope this small act leads to a bigger wave of peace. Every step counts towards harmony," said one of them.

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