Survivor of Hamas Kidnapping Shares Harrowing Experience in Nice
Mia Schem recounts her 54-day ordeal as a hostage following the October 7 attacks in Israel.
Mia Schem, a 23-year-old Franco-Israeli woman, recently spoke publicly about her harrowing experience as a hostage of Hamas, having been taken captive for 54 days.
Schem's ordeal began on October 7, 2023, while attending the Nova music festival in Israel, where she was injured in a shooting before being abducted.
Describing her capture, she shared, 'We drove for about 40 minutes.
I had no idea where I was.
I quickly understood the gravity of the situation.' Schem's testimony was delivered at the Consistory of Nice during an event organized by the Collectif 7 Octobre Côte d'Azur, where she sought to recount her experience and raise awareness about the ongoing situation involving hostages held by Hamas.
Upon her release on November 30, 2023, during a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Schem returned home, but not without carrying the weight of her traumatic experiences.
Before her presentation, she had a meeting with the uncle of Elya Toledano, a young man who shared joyous moments with Schem at the Nova festival before both were taken hostage.
Toledano was later found deceased by the Israeli army.
In her account of captivity, Schem revealed the harsh conditions she endured.
'When I was in captivity, I had no idea how many other hostages there were,' she said.
'I was kept in a small room, about 2 meters by 2 meters, with no window and no light.'
During her time in captivity, Schem faced physical abuse, sexual assault, and severe deprivation of basic needs.
She recounted that water provided to her was limited, stating, 'That was the water for three or four days.
I received food only infrequently, such as a pita every few days.
The psychological pressure was constant.'
Schem described her captivity as characterized by terrifying circumstances; she was confined within the household of a terrorist, constantly monitored.
‘In the small room where I was, there was a mattress, and a terrorist who watched me all the time.
I was too afraid to sleep,’ she recounted, illustrating the pervasive fear that gripped her.
Among her harrowing memories is an encounter with a child who visited the household.
‘One day, a child came to bring candy to his father and approached me.
He opened his bag, looked at me, and then closed it without saying anything,’ Schem recalled, emphasizing this moment as indicative of the broader complicity of those involved in her ordeal.
After her transfer to a tunnel shared by other Israeli hostages, Schem finally experienced freedom following an agreement.
Upon her release, she expressed gratitude for the public's mobilization efforts to raise awareness about the hostages.
'I am here to say thank you for your support.
It must continue.
This is not a question of months, weeks, or even days but of seconds,' she emphasized.
As of the latest updates, of the 251 individuals kidnapped in Israel on October 7, 2023, 58 remain in captivity, with reports indicating that around twenty of them may still be alive.
Schem's ordeal began on October 7, 2023, while attending the Nova music festival in Israel, where she was injured in a shooting before being abducted.
Describing her capture, she shared, 'We drove for about 40 minutes.
I had no idea where I was.
I quickly understood the gravity of the situation.' Schem's testimony was delivered at the Consistory of Nice during an event organized by the Collectif 7 Octobre Côte d'Azur, where she sought to recount her experience and raise awareness about the ongoing situation involving hostages held by Hamas.
Upon her release on November 30, 2023, during a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Schem returned home, but not without carrying the weight of her traumatic experiences.
Before her presentation, she had a meeting with the uncle of Elya Toledano, a young man who shared joyous moments with Schem at the Nova festival before both were taken hostage.
Toledano was later found deceased by the Israeli army.
In her account of captivity, Schem revealed the harsh conditions she endured.
'When I was in captivity, I had no idea how many other hostages there were,' she said.
'I was kept in a small room, about 2 meters by 2 meters, with no window and no light.'
During her time in captivity, Schem faced physical abuse, sexual assault, and severe deprivation of basic needs.
She recounted that water provided to her was limited, stating, 'That was the water for three or four days.
I received food only infrequently, such as a pita every few days.
The psychological pressure was constant.'
Schem described her captivity as characterized by terrifying circumstances; she was confined within the household of a terrorist, constantly monitored.
‘In the small room where I was, there was a mattress, and a terrorist who watched me all the time.
I was too afraid to sleep,’ she recounted, illustrating the pervasive fear that gripped her.
Among her harrowing memories is an encounter with a child who visited the household.
‘One day, a child came to bring candy to his father and approached me.
He opened his bag, looked at me, and then closed it without saying anything,’ Schem recalled, emphasizing this moment as indicative of the broader complicity of those involved in her ordeal.
After her transfer to a tunnel shared by other Israeli hostages, Schem finally experienced freedom following an agreement.
Upon her release, she expressed gratitude for the public's mobilization efforts to raise awareness about the hostages.
'I am here to say thank you for your support.
It must continue.
This is not a question of months, weeks, or even days but of seconds,' she emphasized.
As of the latest updates, of the 251 individuals kidnapped in Israel on October 7, 2023, 58 remain in captivity, with reports indicating that around twenty of them may still be alive.
