Hostage’s Take on Trump and Hamas: A Surprising Turn of Events
Omer Shem Tov, a former Israeli hostage, recently shared his reflections with CNN regarding his time in captivity under Hamas, noting a distinct shift in his captors’ demeanor following Donald Trump’s election as president in November.
This revelation might not raise eyebrows, especially when juxtaposed against Trump’s historically strong support for Israel, compared to the somewhat lukewarm reception that former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have shown toward the Jewish State. It’s almost as if the captors had placed their bets on the wrong horse.
“The terrorists were very scared of [Trump]. They wanted Kamala to be elected,” Shem Tov recounted in an interview with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga that aired this past Wednesday. “But as soon as Donald Trump was elected, they understood he wants to bring the hostages back home. So immediately, the way they treated me changed.” Shem Tov, a 22-year-old who endured 505 days in captivity, elaborated that his treatment improved significantly—there was more food, better treatment, and notably, they ceased the spitting and cursing directed at him.
“(The terrorists) were very scared of (Trump). They wanted Kamala to be elected. But as soon as Trump was elected, they understood he wants to bring the hostages back home. So immediately the way they treated me changed…My food, they treated me better.”
Omer Shem Tov tells me… pic.twitter.com/phHusemiAc— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) May 28, 2025
When Golodryga probed whether he believed this change in treatment stemmed from a potential deal on the horizon, Shem Tov expressed his agreement, suggesting that the captors felt a shift in the political winds that might favor negotiations.
He was one of the approximately 250 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023, and was released in February as part of a temporary cease-fire agreement, with Trump’s team playing a pivotal role in the negotiations, according to Fox News.
In March, Shem Tov, along with seven other released hostages, had a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, where he expressed profound gratitude: “My family and, I, myself, we believe you’ve been sent by God to release us. You really helped. You have the power to do it.”
Naama Levy, another released hostage, echoed this sentiment, stating, “You were our hope when we were there. Now, you’re their hope,” referring to those still in captivity. She added, “Once you were elected, we heard that you want to do everything to make a deal as soon as possible.”
Breaking: released hostages met with President Trump and thanked him for managing to get the hostage deal done – and asked him to get the rest of them out as well.
This is what they told him:
Omer Shem Tov: “My family and, I, myself we believe you’ve been sent by god to release… pic.twitter.com/lwx9SYHeTH— Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) March 5, 2025
Trump responded, “Well, we said … ‘You better let them out.’ … Something happened. Now we’ve got to get the rest out. We’re working on it very hard.” This statement underlines a certain bravado that has characterized Trump’s approach to foreign policy.
On Wednesday, alongside Trump, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff announced an agreed framework for a temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. He expressed optimism about reaching a long-term resolution, stating, “I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution — temporary cease-fire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution — of that conflict.”
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East @SteveWitkoff on Gaza: “I think that we are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today… I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution — temporary ceasefire.” pic.twitter.com/Cg4wNeNBsh
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 28, 2025
The proposed deal reportedly includes the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased, along with a 60-day truce, as confirmed by an Israeli official to CNN.
Trump and his administration have demonstrated a vigorous approach to ending the conflict in Gaza, sharply contrasting with the tepid support from the Biden-Harris administration, which many argue has only emboldened Hamas to retain hostages and continue hostilities. It’s no surprise that the captors were rooting for Kamala to win—after all, who wouldn’t want a more pliable opponent?
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
