The Biden administration slammed Hamas’ propaganda tactics after the terrorist organization released its first video of a hostage taken from Israel.
The one-minute clip posted to Telegram by Hamas shows a woman 21-year-old French-Israeli woman who was abducted during Hamas’ attack on a music festival in southern Israel. The woman identified by her family as Mia Schem spoke to the camera and pleaded for her safe return home, claiming Hamas was taking care of her. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, however, said that Hamas is using Schem for “propaganda” in an attempt to convince the watching world that they are treating hostages humanely.
“There’s no question in my mind that that woman gave that video testimony under duress, probably forced to do it,” Kirby told TODAY host Savannah Guthrie. “It’s a propaganda video much more than it is proof of life or, certainly, proof of concept for Hamas. It’s despicable, deplorable that they would take these hostages and then advertise how well they’re treating them when they’re the ones who hurt them in the first place.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted a statement about the video, saying Hamas attempts to “portray themselves as humane” but in reality, “are a horrific terrorist organization responsible for the murder and abduction of babies, children, men, women and the elderly.”
While Hamas has attempted to demonize Israel for airstrikes on military targets in the Gaza Strip, the terrorist group has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if certain conditions are not met in the ongoing war. Hamas initially said it took “dozens” of hostages in its October 7 attack on Israel, but now the terrorists say they have around 250 hostages. Hamas claims to be keeping close track of the civilians killed in the Gaza Strip, but it’s not as concerned with knowing the exact number of Israeli and American hostages. A Hamas spokesman claimed that “security and practical difficulties” prevent them from getting a specific count of the hostages.
In the hostage video, Schem is seen getting a large scar on her arm bandaged, saying that her captors operated on her injured arm for three hours after taking her to the Gaza Strip.
“I was [at] a party. I was badly injured in my arm. They took me to Gaza. They performed a 3-hour surgery to my arm. They took care of me, treated me, provided medicine to me. Everything is fine,” Schem said before pleading for her release.
“I am just asking them to return me home as soon as possible,” she continued. “To my family, father, mother, and siblings. Please, get us out of here as soon as you can.”
Hamas Islamist terrorists have released video of an injured Israeli hostage Mia Schem from Gaza.
IDF Statement 👇
Last week, Mia Schem's family was informed by IDF officials that Mia had been adbucted.
IDF representatives are in continuous contact with the family.
The IDF is… pic.twitter.com/nHG587QtF4
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 16, 2023
Schem was with hundreds of other young people at the Tribe of Nova music festival on October 7 when Hamas terrorists brutally slaughtered around 250 of the festival attendees and took dozens of others captive back to the Gaza Strip. Video footage of the attack at the festival showed terrorists searching for Israelis to murder and executing young men and women at point-blank range.
The IDF estimates that Hamas is currently holding nearly 200 hostages in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli military prepares a ground operation to free the hostages and take out Hamas terrorists who continue to threaten Israel.
“Last week, Mia was abducted by Hamas,” the IDF said. “IDF officials have since informed Mia’s family and are in continuous contact with them. … At this time, we are deploying all intelligence and operational measures for the return of all hostages—including Mia.”
Schem’s mother spoke at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, pleading with world leaders to ensure her daughter’s safe return.
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“I ask world leaders that my daughter be returned to us in the state that she is today, as well as the other hostages,” Karen Schem said, according to the New York Post. “I am begging the world to return my baby to me.”
“It is a crime against humanity. All together we need to stop this terror,” she added.
Karen Schem didn’t know if her daughter was alive until she saw the hostage video, and said that Mia “looks terrified.”
“She says what they tell her to say. I’m really worried about her,” Karen Schem added.