Omer Shem Tov’s family, on seeing him upbeat at the handover ceremony: ‘That’s Omer. He gets on with everyone’

Malki Shem Tov, father of Omer, says his son’s wide smile at the Hamas propaganda handover to the Red Cross encapsulates the returning hostage’s personality.

“Omer is thinner… but is upbeat, upbeat, the most positive-minded in the world,” Shem Tov tells Channel 12 in a video call from the rendezvous point as he awaits his son.

“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 says.

After “505 days of worry, 505 days of fear and of missing him… our life’s mission is complete,” says the father. “The national mission is still incomplete, and everyone needs to be brought back home, but our personal mission is complete.”

Malki’s mother Sara, at a family gathering at their home in Herzliya, also says her grandson Omer’s smile is characteristic.

“That’s Omer,” she says… He’s just that kind of kid… He gets on with everyone. Even Hamas… They love him even there.”

Omer’s brother Amit says: “He’s always, always positive.”

Shem Tov was also directed to kiss two of the masked Hamas gunmen on the tops of their heads by the terror group’s cameramen, who were filming alongside the hostages and the gunmen at the carefully staged handover event.

Dana, Omer’s sister, says she has “no words” to describe how happy she is.

“It’s the happiest day of my life. You saw this whole time what we’ve said about Omer, and now you see who Omer is. I’m just waiting to get to the hospital and not let go.”