Survivor of Captivity Omar Venkert Reveals: “Hamas Militants Risked My Life for Fun”
Special Panel at Lawyers’ Conference Highlights Omar Venkert’s Ordeal
A special session at the 2025 Lawyers’ Conference was dedicated to Omar Venkert, who recently returned home after enduring 500 days in captivity at the hands of Hamas. Venkert participated in the event alongside his mother, Niva Venkert. The panel was moderated by attorney Dudi Zalmanovich, founder of the Hostage Families Bureau and the ‘Kamin’ charity. This year’s conference marked a significant moment, occurring a year after a previous session focused on calls for Venkert’s release.
During the panel, Venkert shared harrowing details about his conditions in captivity, his psychological and physical struggles, and the challenges faced upon his return to civilian life. “I spent six and a half months in complete isolation,” he recounted. “The space was only 90 cm wide and 10 meters long. I was on a mattress with a hole for my needs behind me. They only entered my cell for a minute each day. The light was partial, and they tried to distort my sense of time. I had my first shower only after nearly ten months.”
Deteriorating Conditions During Captivity
Venkert described a significant decline in conditions following the entry of Israeli Defense Forces into Rafah. “There was deliberate starvation. They risked my life for enjoyment. start of them sprayed pesticide in my face while my eyes were open. He made sure that everything I touched was sprayed.”
As time went on, two additional hostages, Avitar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, were brought into his confinement. “This helped psychologically, but physical conditions worsened-there was less food and less water, and we were crowded together. The torture stopped, but the conditions remained harsh,” he noted.
This poignant session underscored the resilience of those who endure such hardships and the ongoing conversations surrounding the treatment of captives. The event aimed to foster understanding and support for those affected by captivity, and Venkert’s story serves as a powerful testament to human endurance in the face of adversity