In a deeply concerning development, Hamas has released a video featuring a young Israeli woman who was abducted during the attacks on October 7, which resulted in a devastating loss of over 1,300 lives and escalated tensions in Gaza. Approximately 200 individuals were reported to have been taken hostage during these tragic events.
The video, released by Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, features the woman, 21-year-old Miya Schem, with her arm visibly bandaged. Miya identifies herself in the video and reveals that she hails from Sderot, a small Israeli town located near the Gaza border. On the day of the attacks, she was attending the Supernova Sukkot Music Festival at Kibbutz Re’im when the event was disrupted by a group of Hamas operatives. The assault claimed the lives of at least 260 people attending the music festival, and Miya, along with others, was taken hostage.
The video, which is just over a minute long, shows medical personnel attending to Miya’s injury. She discloses that she underwent a challenging three-hour surgery to address her wounds. In a plea for her release, Miya expresses, “They’re caring for me, they’re treating me, they’re giving me medication. Everything is okay. I’m only asking to be returned home as soon as possible, to my family, to my parents, to my siblings. Please get us out of here as soon as possible.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that Miya was abducted last week and have taken steps to reach out to her family and maintain communication with them.
IDF has shared a post on social media, criticizing Hamas for attempting to present a humane image in their video. They emphasize that Hamas is a known terrorist organization responsible for the abduction and murder of innocent individuals, including children, women, and the elderly. They stress their commitment to deploying all necessary intelligence and operational measures to secure the release of all hostages, including Miya.
Last week, Mia was abducted by Hamas.
IDF officials have since informed Mia’s family and are in continuous contact with them.
In the video published by Hamas, they try to portray themselves as humane. However, they are a horrorific terrorist organization responsible for the…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2023
Miya’s family has reacted to the video, expressing their relief at seeing her safe, according to a report in The Times of Israel. Miya is a dual citizen of Israel and France. Her family is among a group of French families who have recently appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron for assistance in securing the release of their loved ones, as reported by Reuters news agency.
The situation is a matter of great concern, and efforts are underway to ensure Miya’s safe return and to prevent further tragedies like this one in the future.