By AMI BENTOV and AMY TEIBEL (Associated Press)
JERUSALEM (AP) — The mom of a younger Israeli lady held by Hamas appealed for her launch on Tuesday, calling the seizure of round 200 hostages by the Palestinian militant group “a crime against humanity.”
Hamas’ army wing launched a video on Monday exhibiting a dazed Mia Schem, 21, having her arm wrapped with bandages. It was the primary signal of life from any of the hostages since Gaza-based gunmen smashed via border fortifications on Oct. 7, killing greater than 1,400 folks in Israel.
“I didn’t know if she’s dead or alive until yesterday,” her mom, Keren Schem, stated at a information convention. “All I knew is that she might be kidnapped. I’m begging the world to bring my baby back home. She only went to a party, to a festival party to have some fun. Now she’s in Gaza.”
Mia Schem was seized at a desert rave simply over the border from Gaza that grew to become the location of what’s believed to be the worst civilian bloodbath in Israeli historical past. At least 260 folks have been gunned down as closely armed militants in vans and on bikes barreled via the huge area on Kibbutz Re’im the place hundreds had gathered for a carefree evening of digital music.
Civilians and troopers, younger and previous, Israelis and non-Israelis have been amongst not less than 199 folks taken into captivity from Re’im and different areas in southern Israel.
“This is a crime against humanity and we should all gather and stop this terror and bring everybody back home,” Keren Schem stated.
The U.S. on Tuesday known as on Hamas to right away launch all hostages, which embody American residents.
“There should be no reason for them to have any hostages in the first place. And number two, we’re working very, very hard with our partners in the region to secure the release of all the hostages,” U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated on NBC’s “Today” present. “We know there’s a small number of Americans, but all of them need to come home and be with their families, and we’re working on that very, very hard.”
The plight of the hostages has dominated Israel’s media because the assault. The seizure of so many civilian hostages is unprecedented in Israel’s historical past, and interviews with family members are broadcast all through the day.
The Israeli army stated Schem’s household was advised of her abduction final week, and officers dismissed the video as propaganda designed to make Hamas look humane. Israeli officers have vowed to keep up a siege on Gaza till the hostages are launched.
Mia Schem has twin nationality with France, and on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron decried the hostage-taking.
“To have taken hostages, both civilian and military, of all nationalities and to use blackmail at this time is absolutely odious and unacceptable,” Macron stated at a information convention in Albania.
France, he added, was working with Israeli authorities and with Hamas via third events to win the discharge of French and different hostages.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”