From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
At Oct. 7 ceremony, ex-hostage Omer Shem Tov calls for release of remaining captives
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleStav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
Released hostage Omer Shem Tov and Israeli singer Eden Golan take the stage at Israel’s national memorial ceremony in Tel Aviv, marking two years since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught, calling for the release of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza.
“We are still on the journey — with 48 hostages who have not yet returned, and families who wait, breathe, and pray for that moment,” Shem Tov tells the crowd of some 30,000.
He expresses gratitude for all those who fell while fighting back against the invading terrorists or while saving civilians on October 7, and singles out Ori Danino, who initially fled the Nova music festival, only to return to try and rescue Shem Tov, and Maya and Itay Regev. He was taken hostage and murdered in captivity in August 2024.
“For two long years, 48 innocent souls have been held captive by Hamas,” Golan says in English, addressing national audiences watching the livestreamed event.
“Please, stand with us. Raise your voices, help us tell the world: They are coming home,” she urges, before performing a rendition of “I’m Coming Home.”
Following her performance, the crowd erupted into chants of “Everyone, now.”
Their appeal comes as ceasefire and hostage-exchange talks, mediated by the United States alongside Egypt and Qatar, are underway in Egypt.
The Times of Israel Community.