Hostage’s mom breaks silence: The horrific truth of his 505 days in Hamas hell

Omer, released weeks ago after enduring 505 days in Hamas captivity, survived conditions Shelly described as unbearable. Her emotional recounting shed light on the physical and psychological torment her son faced, underscoring the urgency of rescuing the 59 hostages still held in Gaza.

“Every day Omer is home is a miracle,” Shelly began, voice trembling. “He returned after 505 days in Gaza’s hell. Twice, he met God during his captivity.” She detailed his initial 54 days aboveground with fellow hostage Itai Regev, where a dud bomb landed just 50 meters away—a near-death encounter she called his first divine meeting. After Itai’s release, Omer was moved to a tunnel too cramped to stand or stretch his arms, lit only by a small flashlight. “At first, he got a pita a day,” she said. “Later, it was one biscuit and salty water. In his last five days, the flashlight battery died, leaving him in darkness, praying to God for escape.”

Miraculously, two hours after his prayers, captors pulled him from the tunnel. But two days later, a commander ordered him back underground. A guard delayed the return until morning—hours before the tunnel was bombed, marking Omer’s second brush with providence. “Divine oversight saved him again,” Shelly said.

She concluded with a plea: “The hostages have no time. They’re abused physically and mentally every moment. Our enemy is cruel and deserves destruction, but first, we must free the 59 still held—let their families embrace or bury them. Everyone deserves security, and true victory won’t come without the hostages.” Her words, raw with pain and resolve, amplify the call to prioritize their release amid Israel’s ongoing fight, painting a vivid picture of captivity’s toll and a mother’s unyielding hope.