Israeli-French Woman Describes Harrowing Ordeal as Hostage of Hamas Militants
In a chilling account of her 54 days in captivity, Mia Schem, a 21-year-old Israeli-French woman, has shed light on the terrifying experiences she endured after being taken hostage by Hamas militants near the Gaza border. Released in late November under a now-lapsed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Schem detailed her ordeal in an interview with Israeli TV Channel 13.
Schem recounted the tragic events that unfolded on October 7 when she was attending a rave near the Gaza border. Chaos ensued as Hamas infiltrators stormed the venue, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of revelers. Attempting to flee the scene, Schem's car was fired upon and set ablaze. Nursing a bullet wound to her arm, she faced a life-altering decision – whether to burn to death or surrender to the gunman who seized her as she emerged from the flames.
Brought into the Gaza Strip by pickup truck, Schem spent three days confined to a room with her arm in a rudimentary splint. Subsequently, she was taken to the home of a Hamas gunman, where she described being closely monitored around the clock.
"I was closed in a dark room, not allowed to talk, not allowed to be seen, to be heard, hidden. There is a terrorist looking at you 24/7, looking, raping you with his eyes," she said, expressing the fear of potential harm.
Schem revealed that the presence of the captor's wife in the house provided some reassurance, preventing what she believed could have been a more sinister outcome. She highlighted that her fear of being raped and the constant threat of death haunted her throughout the captivity.
As she was released on November 30, still within Gaza, Schem stated that she felt compelled to give an account of being well-treated, highlighting the complex dynamics of her situation.
During her hostage ordeal, Schem described the captor's wife as having "toyed" with her, serving meals to the gunman while denying her food. The hostile treatment added to the psychological distress of being confined.
Tragically, Schem's best friend and fellow hostage, Elia Toledano, was not as fortunate. Taken to a different location, he was killed in what Hamas claimed was an Israeli air strike. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Schem's fellow hostages, including Toledano, are currently under investigation by the Israeli military.
Schem's account provides a glimpse into the harrowing experiences faced by hostages in conflict zones, shedding light on the psychological and physical toll endured during their captivity. The international community continues to closely monitor developments in the region, highlights the need for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict between Israel and Hamas.
