‘Cheap propaganda’ – Israelis react to Omer Shem Tov kissing head of Hamas terrorist during hostage release ceremony

Saturday’s release ceremony for hostages Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert after 505 days in captivity was mixed with joy and sadness, as the nation was also grieving the return of the four murdered hostages, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. 

Besides the usual propaganda-laden ceremony, Israelis were shocked to learn shortly afterward that Hamas had brought two other Israeli hostages to the event, forcing them to watch the event from the inside of a vehicle while being filmed for another Hamas propaganda video, which was released soon after.

However, as footage of the release ceremony, which was not broadcast on Israeli TV channels, was released online, some Israelis noticed something else that disturbed them.

Hostage Omer Shem Tov kissed a Hamas terrorist on the forehead during the release ceremony. In the edited footage, which was posted online during the immediate aftermath of the ceremony, it was hard to tell if Omer's action was spontaneous or directed. 

Multiple pro-Palestinian accounts on social media shared the clip, claiming it was a sign of Hamas' good treatment of the hostages during their captivity. One Arab network highlighted the act, saying it was proof of Hamas' humane treatment of the hostages.

“A Zionist prisoner in Gaza kissed one of the Qassam Brigades fighters on the forehead a few moments before his release in the central Gaza Strip. This moment emphasizes the sharp contrast between the occupation, which neglects its captives, and the resistance, which treats them humanely despite everything,” the network said. 

In Arab society, a kiss on the forehead is an act of friendship and appreciation for someone, and a common familial gesture. In some Arab cultures, a kiss on the forehead is also considered a sign of an apology or acknowledgment of the harm done to the person being kissed. 

Among Arab social media accounts, many shared photos and videos of the kiss as proof of the mutual good feelings between the captors and the captives. 

One example is the social media account of Yemeni user Abdulrahman Sharaf Al-Din, who wrote, “The Zionist prisoner who found the true meaning of peace and the true meaning of humanity and was unable to thank and describe them with words, kissed their heads.” 

الأسير الصهيوني الذي وجد معنى السلام الحقيقي ومعنى الانسانية الحقيقية وعجز بالكلام عن شكرهم ووصفهم قام بتقبيل رؤوسهم.. pic.twitter.com/AYbP4VIpZj

— عبدالرحمن شرف الدين (العباس) (@shrf40) February 22, 2025

Egyptian journalist Shireen Arafah, went even further, claiming, “Perhaps this prisoner was influenced by what he saw from the Al-Qassam Brigades and delved into the religion of Islam. Hamas represents me and every respectable Muslim on earth.” 

Hamas senior political official Sami Abu Zuhri told the Hamas-affiliated Gaza news agency Shehab that “the kiss given by an Israeli prisoner on the head of al-Qassam operatives is an unprecedented event in history.” 

However, after lengthier clips of the incident began to be posted, Israelis noticed that it appeared the incident was scripted by Hamas. 

A clear angle showing Hamas cameraman ordering Israeli hostage Omer Shem-Tov to kiss his captors heads, the hostage getting very confused and anxious about it, the cameraman then explaining the scene he wants to capture to his friends, and then… gimbal ready… and action! pic.twitter.com/7Lwb08JWY7

— Boaz Arad 博雅 (@aradboaz) February 22, 2025

Even before the full footage was released, Israelis were attempting to make sense of what they saw. Some claimed that Shem Tov was trying to demonstrate the moral high ground, but refusing to give in to the defeatist propaganda around him. Others commented that he might have been instructed to do so. 

Ynet Arab World Correspondent Lior Ben-Ari questioned the scene even before the full details were known. 

“Can you imagine which part of Hamas' horrific video is the most viral on Arab networks?” she asked. “It's not the fact that they were released after 505 days in captivity, but it's clear that Omer's kiss is a good name for the Hamas terrorists. Of course, they also chose the angle that would serve their narrative, that Omer did it by choice, when it's clear to all of us, or at least to anyone who sees a different angle, that he was asked to do it by the mischievous gunmen.” 

She went on to explain how the move serves Hamas' propaganda. 

“The demand for a kiss and another one on the head, typical of a father-son relationship, is further proof of how well-planned Hamas' propaganda is and comes after giving gifts and souvenirs of the same value and demanding that the hostages thank them on stage. So maybe we'll explain it to them in Arabic, ‘I swear, is it possible for the kidnapped person to kiss the head of the terrorist who kidnapped him? No, of course not.’” 

One Saudi social media user even questioned on 𝕏, “Was he required to do this by Hamas in order to send messages to the world about their good treatment of the hostages and to embarrass the Netanyahu government after the uproar that befell them after the release of the three prisoners and after the killing of the two Israeli children and their mother?”

Even during the first hostage-ceasefire release deal in November 2023, several Israeli hostages were seen warmly greeting Hamas terrorists, or even hugging them as they were being handed over to the Red Cross. After those same hostages returned to Israel, they confirmed that they had been instructed on how to behave around the Hamas terrorists. 

After returning to Israel, Shem Tov related that he had been instructed by a Hamas cameraman to kiss the two Hamas terrorists on stage with him. 

Astute social media users, especially those with pro-Israel backgrounds, were quick to notice how the full video of the release ceremony clearly shows a Hamas cameraman approaching Shem Tov, whispering in his ear, then approaching the two Hamas terrorists standing next to Omer, while also saying something to them. Shortly after, Omer turns towards the two and gives a “spontaneous” kiss on the heads of both. 

Watch as the Hamasnik with the camera approaches Omer Shem Tov and whispers into his ear a command to kiss the head of his abuser, abductor, kidnapper, and torturer. He then informs that Hamasnik of the plan. They then wait as the Hamasnik in the bottom right corner is positioned… pic.twitter.com/ryszzNj3FX

— Elica Le Bon الیکا‌ ل بن (@elicalebon) February 22, 2025

N12 News journalist Shai Levi called the scene an act of “cheap propaganda.” 

“Of course, this is cheap, embarrassing and despicable propaganda by the organization, which tries to broadcast to the world mainly as if it cared about the hostage, to such an extent that they have a hard time saying goodbye to it,” Levi wrote in a reaction to the video.

“But as mentioned, any pair of eyes will be able to easily identify the moment when the photographer turns to Omer while he is surrounded by armed terrorists, and asks him to take part in their disgusting show.”