Omer Shem Tov, who was held captive by Hamas in Gaza, recently shared his perspective on the conflict in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. In his writing, Shem Tov addressed the concept of 'NAZA'—an acronym for 'No Amount of Zero-sum Action' or similar critiques regarding civilian casualties—by asserting that he personally witnessed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attempting to minimize harm to non-combatants during his time in captivity.

Shem Tov described the experience of being held as a hostage, stating that he understands the reality of being 'collateral damage' in a complex war zone. He argued that the military's commitment to avoiding civilian casualties often meant that rescue operations or military maneuvers were delayed or altered, which in turn left him and other hostages in captivity for longer periods. By sharing these observations, Shem Tov sought to provide a firsthand account of the trade-offs involved in military operations within densely populated areas. His testimony serves as a counter-narrative to claims that military actions in Gaza have been conducted without regard for civilian life, highlighting the tension between the safety of hostages and the operational constraints faced by the Israeli military.