Miya Schem, 21, said she underwent surgery for an arm injury
New Delhi:
Hamas has released a video of an Israeli woman taken hostage during the October 7 attacks that killed more than 1,300 and ignited a war in Gaza. About 200 people were reportedly taken hostage in the attacks.
Hamas’s military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, yesterday released a video of a woman who identified herself as 21-year-old Miya Schem. In the video, the woman’s arm can be seen wrapped in bandages.
In the video she said she is from Sderot, a small Israeli town near the Gaza border. On the day of the attacks, she was attending the Supernova Sukkot Music Festival in Kibbutz Re’im when Hamas operatives attacked the gathering. At least 260 people at the music festival were killed and others, including Miya, were taken hostage.
The video, which lasts just over a minute, shows a nurse dressing Miya’s injury. The Israeli woman says she underwent a three-hour operation to repair her injury.
“They take care of me, they treat me, they give me medicine. Everything is fine,” she says. “I just ask to be returned home as soon as possible, to my family, to my parents, to my brothers and sisters. Please get us out of here as quickly as possible.”
The Israeli military confirmed that Mia was kidnapped last week and said officials have contacted Mia’s family.
Last week, Mia was kidnapped by Hamas.
IDF officials have since informed Mia’s family and are in constant contact with them.
In the video published by Hamas, they try to portray themselves as human. However, they are a terrible terrorist organization responsible for…
– Israeli Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2023
“In the video published by Hamas, they try to portray themselves as human. However, they are a heinous terrorist organization responsible for the murder and kidnapping of babies, children, men, women and the elderly (sic),” read an IDF message on X read.
“We are currently deploying all intelligence and operational measures for the return of all hostages, including Mia,” the IDF added.
Miya’s family has responded to the clip, saying they are glad she is safe, according to a report in The Times of Israel.
Miya has dual Israeli-French nationality. Her family were among French families who last week appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron to help free their relatives, Reuters news agency reported.
