An Israeli woman kidnapped by Hamas during a brutal attack on a music festival near the Gaza Strip pleaded for help in a video released by the terrorists on Monday.
In a 60-second clip posted to Telegram, Mia Schem is shown receiving medical treatment for an arm injury before she tells the camera she is in Gaza and pleads for her release.
Schem, 21, disappeared from the Tribe of Nova music festival where Hamas terrorists killed 260 people.
He said in the video that he underwent a three-hour operation in Gaza, according to a translation from Hebrew by the Jerusalem Post.
“They took care of me, gave me medicine, everything was fine. I just ask them to take me home as soon as possible to my parents, to my siblings,” he said in the video. “Get me out of here as soon as possible. Please.”
The clip is the first footage of a hostage released by Hamas.
Schem said his arm was badly injured and he underwent a three-hour operation at a Gaza hospital.
The Israel Defense Forces condemned the video and confirmed that Schem had been kidnapped by Hamas last week. The military organization said its officers are in constant communication with their families.
“In the video published by Hamas, they try to portray themselves as humane,” the IDF wrote in a statement to X. “However, they are a horrible people. [sic] terrorist organization responsible for the killing and kidnapping of babies, children, men, women and the elderly.”
Schem’s aunt told Israeli media that the family had seen the hostage video and confirmed it was him, according to the Jerusalem Post.
“Today [the family] called me screaming and told me that they saw Mia in a video on Telegram. I saw it, and I thought I was dreaming. I finally saw the girl after so long,” her aunt Galit told Israeli reporters. “He looks sick and scared – but at least he’s alive.”
Some of Schem’s footage was recorded at least six days ago, according to an analysis of its metadata by the New York Times.
Schem pleaded for his release so he could be reunited with his family in Israel. Skim was one of 199 people kidnapped by Hamas, according to Israeli authorities.
The woman’s mother, Keren Schem, last spoke to her daughter the day before Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel.
“He called me to say he was going to a party down south,” Keren Schem said, according to the Times. “I asked where, and he said he wasn’t sure.”
When he found out about the violent raid the next day, he called his daughter repeatedly but got no answer.
He did not know what happened to him until the IDF informed his family that he had been kidnapped and brought into Gaza.
The family hopes other countries will help to bring Schem home.
“This is a very important step, and we want our girl at home,” her aunt said, referring to the video. “We demand that the countries of the free world ensure that he returns to us. He was with his best friend – Elya Toledano, and we heard nothing more about him. We want to know he’s okay.”
The IDF said it was “deploying all intelligence and operational measures to return all hostages – including Mia.”
Earlier Monday, Israeli authorities announced that 199 people had been kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas in Gaza — adding another 50 to the previously known number. Americans are believed to be among those kidnapped as at least 13 US citizens are missing.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
