Mia Shem: Hamas releases disturbing video of 21-year-old Israeli hostage kidnapped from Nova Festival
amas has released a disturbing video that purports to show an Israeli festival-goer being taken hostage.
In the clip, which the terror group posted on its Telegram channel, a 21-year-old woman appears to look into the camera and say she is from central Israel and asks to be returned home.
The woman identifies herself as Mia Shem, who was taken hostage by the Nova festival, and coolly asks for help “to get me out of here as quickly as possible. Please.”
These are reportedly the first recordings released by Hamas of a hostage allegedly speaking from captivity.
The footage cannot be independently verified because the caption says it shows a hostage kidnapped on October 7 as Hamas launched its attack in southern Israel.
Her family has given the media permission to use a still from the video.
Mia Shem
/ XThe Israeli military condemned Hamas over the video.
“Last week Mia was kidnapped by Hamas. IDF officials have since informed Mia’s family and are in constant contact with them,” they wrote on social media.
“In the video released by Hamas, they are trying to portray themselves as human. However, they are a terrible terrorist organization responsible for the murder and kidnapping of babies, children, men, women and the elderly.”
The Nova Festival was among the sites most affected by the Hamas atrocity.
More than 260 bodies were recovered from the festival site in the desert near the Gaza border after the group fired shots at thousands of young people.
Some of the young people at the festival were filmed being taken hostage by Hamas militants.
Among them was 26-year-old Noa Argamani, who was seen in chilling footage begging “don’t kill me” as she was picked up on a motorbike by a Hamas fighter.
She and her boyfriend Avi Nathan have not been seen since.
Last week, on October 12, her parents held a celebration of her birthday with two empty chairs and a birthday cake at their home in Be’er Sheva.
In a birthday plea posted on the State of Israel’s Twitter account, her parents said: “Today is her 26th birthday.
“Her parents are asking us all to wish her a happy birthday in the hope that this news might somehow reach her.”
In an interview with Israeli television, her father Yaacov added: “All my life, since she was born, I have tried to protect her and hug her, support her and love her.”
“I wish I could at least encourage her or say something to her in this difficult moment.”
Israel estimates that Hamas has taken 199 hostages. Their fate remains unclear.
British Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell said the government was “extremely concerned” about the detention of British hostages and “we pray they are alive.”
It is feared up to 10 hostages have been taken and Mr Mitchell promised the UK would do “everything possible” to free them.
