Omer Shemtov is 21 years old and loves music — both listening to it and playing it. Doubly talented in piano and guitar, he has even considered a career in the music industry.
His passion for music led him to the Nova Music Festival in Israel on Oct. 7 last year. The festival was promoted and described as a celebration of love and freedom.
But that same day was when Shemtov and so many others had their own freedom ripped away from them. It was the day the terror group, Hamas, brutalized Israel, killing many and kidnapping others — including Omer.
Shemtov’s family has not seen him since before the brutal attack. Six months later, they still do not know where he is or how he is doing, as he is one of 130 people still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
His cousin, Leat Corrine Unger, who lives in Bergen County, N.J., said officials and rescue teams are not doing enough to find the hostages and get them safely home.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything from any official body, including the Red Cross,” she said. “None have wanted or done anything to help us understand what Omer’s status is.”
The Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel sparked the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
In addition to the hostages, others have felt the atrocities of the war. More than 30,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and many more have been injured since Israel led their military strikes after Oct. 7.
Red Cross and Red Crescent teams have been working to provide humanitarian aid including medical shipments and other important supplies to hospitals.
Omer’s ordeal
Shemtov was working as a waiter, saving up to travel and attend the Nova festival with friends, Itai and Maya. When Hamas fired rockets into the festival, Omer and his friends lost track of each other as the horrific frenzy ensued. Ultimately, they were reunited and able to escape, but only briefly.
“While they were on their escape route, they became surrounded by terrorists,” she said.
Itai and Maya were later released by Hamas, and recounted to Unger how the kidnapping unfolded. Terrorists surrounded the car, fired rounds of bullets, ultimately disabling the engine and shooting Maya and Itai in their legs.
The terrorists handcuffed the trio and drove them into Gaza. During his ordeal, Shemtov was able to send a live location share from his phone to his sister’s.
“His family literally saw on live location the point of his phone crossing into Gaza,” Unger said. “About a half-hour into Gaza is when the connection was lost.”
Since then, Unger and her family have been very vocal about the need to bring the hostages home. She thinks about him every day and never loses hope that he will be back home soon with his family.
Shemtov’s parents describe their son as “the sunshine of the home,” Unger said.
“It’s really truly him, on the outside and inside,” she said. “He’s just a happy, happy, happy boy. He loves making jokes and always making everyone around him laugh.”
Six months rally on April 7
Advocates from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum will hold a rally at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza in Midtown on April 7 to raise awareness about the importance of bringing the hostages home.
Omer Lubaton Granot is the director of the forum. He advocates for families who have relatives still being held captive by Hamas.
“Unfortunately, we have plenty of families that are based in the area who have family members in captivity in Gaza,” Granot told amNew York Metro during a recent interview.
Omer Neutra, 22, of Long Island, was kidnapped on Oct. 7 and is one of the people still being held hostage by Hamas.
According to The Times of Israel, Neutra was serving as a tank commander near Gaza. He joined the Israeli army after spending a year there in 2020, putting off plans to attend Binghamton University in upstate New York.
Neutra is one of several U.S. citizens still being held by Hamas.
U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro recently spoke on the House Floor, demanding the release of Neutra and the other hostages.
“I demand that Hamas release Omer immediately, along with the remaining hostages,” the Hudson Valley Congress member said. “Those who have been released have shared horror stories of sexual abuse, children being forced to take drugs, and inhumane conditions. I will continue to stand with Israel as it works to eradicate Hamas and free the innocent people wrongfully held by this terrorist group.”
