It was revealed that 21-year-old Franco-Israeli woman Mia Shem, one of the people who went missing after Hamas attacked southern Israel almost two weeks ago, was revealed to be alive and in Hamas captivity.
Shem was attending the Supernova music festival that killed at least 260 of her fellow attendees when she was injured and taken by Hamas fighters. Her status was confirmed after Hamas released a video late Monday (October 16).
In a separate video, Hamas's armed wing said that their hostages were their "guests" and that they would free when circumstances allowed them to do so.
A Mother's Plea
Since the video, Mia's mother, Keren, has appealed for her daughter's immediate release along with at least 198 other hostages.
"I'm begging the world to bring my baby back home," she told reporters in Tel Aviv while clutching a picture of Mia's.
She also said what happened with the Hamas attack was a "crime against humanity" that Hamas should pay for.
"She only went... to a festival party to have some fun," she added. "And now she's in Gaza and she's not the only one."
France Condemns Hamas Hostage-Taking
In response to Hamas's video release, the French government renewed its condemnation.
The French foreign ministry said the video featuring Shem was vile, and President Emmanuel Macron demanded her immediate release.
"It is an ignominy to take innocent people hostage and put them on show in this odious way," he said.
In total, Shem was one of 13 French hostages in Hamas's hands, while 19 other French citizens were among the 1,400 people killed when Hamas attacked over 20 Israeli communities and the music festival.
On the other hand, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) denounced the Hamas video as "psychological terror against Israeli citizens," the BBC reported.
