Mia Schem, a 21-year-old Israeli-French woman who was one of the hostages released by Hamas on December 1, has revealed the trauma she endured in captivity. Schem was taken from the Nova music festival in Re'im, Israel on October 7 by Hamas militants. She recently spoke to the media organisation Channel 13, opening up about the horrors she faced while being held in Gaza. She claimed that she "went through a holocaust" during the 54 days that she was there. "It was important to me to relay the truth about the nature of the people who live in Gaza, who they truly are and what I experienced there,” she said.
Hamas had released a video a few days after Schem was taken, in which she claimed that she was being treated well while being held in Gaza. However, now that she has been freed, she laid the truth bare. "Everyone over there is a terrorist," Schem claimed. She said that she was made to stay with a family including women and children who were associated with Hamas. "Suddenly I realize that I’m with a family. Suddenly I’m asking myself questions: Why am I in some family’s home? Why are there kids here? Why is there a wife?” she expressed.
Trauma From Captivity
Schem, who is a tattoo artist, shared a photo on her Instagram, where her arm was wrapped in bandages. She also posted a picture of her tattoo which said, "We will dance again. 7.10.2023," referring to the date when she was taken hostage. She captioned the photograph, "The pain and the fear, the difficult sights, the friends who won’t come back, and those we must bring back. But we will win, we will dance!"
Operated By A Veterinarian?
Mia Schem was among the several Israeli people taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 from the Re'im music festival. On October 16, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, a military branch of Hamas, released a video on its telegram channel where Schem was seen wrapped up in bandages, saying she underwent surgery for a severe injury on her hand, while she also claimed all hostages were treated well.
However, Schem's family strongly disapproved of the video uploaded by Hamas, claiming that the surgery was performed by a veterinarian after Hamas militants shot her in the music family before she was abducted. Her aunt alleged that no physiotherapy was provided to Schem, and she seems frail.
Her aunt also said that Schem repeatedly told the militants that she was not an Israeli soldier and was a French citizen, despite which she was kept hostage for 54 days. Her family went to request French President Emmanuel Macron's say in the early release of their families and loved ones.
As Schem was returned, the Israeli PMO released a series of photos and a video of her reuniting with her mother and her brother with teary eyes, while French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his "joy" after the young woman safely returned to her home.
Who Are The Remaining Hostages In Gaza?
Hamas militants after the attack of October 7 on Israel kidnapped around 240 people including babies, children, women, and elderly people along with foreigners and men. After the Israel-Hamas truce deal, Hamas released around 80 Israeli children, women, and teenagers in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Hamas militants also released 25 more people outside the deal of the truce during the halted offences by Israeli forces most of whom were Thai farm workers. The total number of hostages released by Hamas is now 105 as the truce deal ends today. Five hostages were also released by Hamas before the truce.
A total number of 110 hostages have returned home alive out of the initial hostage counts of 240 including 49 women, 33 children, and 28 men. However, the Israeli government claims 137 hostages are still held by the Hamas terrorists including 126 Israelis, eight Thais, one Tanzanian, one Nepali, and one French-Mexican.
The truce deal in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has ended today as Israeli forces resume their offensive in Gaza.
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