Omer Shem Tov, who spent more than 500 days in Hamas captivity, is pushing back forcefully against student leaders at University of California, Los Angeles after they criticized his recent appearance on campus for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Shem Tov, who was kidnapped during the October 7 attacks and freed in February 2025, told The California Post that he addressed the backlash following a statement issued by UCLA’s Undergraduate Students Association Council. The council argued that his remarks reflected a “single narrative” and did not include a Palestinian viewpoint, contending that such programming promotes what it described as selective storytelling that overlooks broader realities.

Responding to the criticism, Shem Tov warned against what he sees as an effort to suppress direct testimony. He said that rejecting the voice of someone who lived through such an ordeal in order to preserve a certain perspective points to a deeper problem, stressing that fundamental values should not be sacrificed for ideological agendas.

Student body president Diego Bollo later clarified that the council’s statement passed by a slim margin and acknowledged procedural shortcomings. He said an internal review would examine how official statements are prepared and released, while reiterating his support for free expression and the inclusion of a range of viewpoints on campus.

Even amid the controversy, Shem Tov’s team described the campus event as positive and respectful, emphasizing that students with differing opinions engaged in meaningful conversation. UCLA’s administration also expressed backing for the event, citing its emphasis on resilience, human rights, and dignity, and said it would evaluate how the student council’s statement was handled, calling the criticism out of step with the university’s values.

The episode unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing unrest at UCLA, where protests tied to the war in Gaza have continued and where the Trump administration has increased scrutiny over concerns about antisemitism and the broader campus climate.

Jewish students are estimated to account for about 9% of UCLA’s undergraduate body, totaling roughly 3,100 to 4,000 individuals.