Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Mother of Israeli woman in Hamas hostage video appeals for her release
Keren, mother of Mia Schem and representatives of the families of the abducted and missing persons held by Hamas militants in Gaza hold a press conference following the release of a video by Hamas, in which the 21-year-old Israeli woman is seen. Schem was among the roughly 200 people kidnapped in Hamas' cross-border attack on October 7 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, October 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Latest News
October 17, 2023

Mother of Israeli woman in Hamas hostage video appeals for her release

JERUSALEM (AP) — The mother of a young Israeli woman held by Hamas appealed for her release on Tuesday, calling the seizure of some 200 hostages by the Palestinian militant group “a crime against humanity.”

A day earlier, Hamas’ military wing released a video showing a dazed Mia Schem, 21, having her arm wrapped with bandages. It was the first sign of life from any of the hostages since Gaza-based gunmen smashed through border fortifications on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people in Israel.

“I didn’t know if she’s dead or alive until yesterday,” her mother, Keren Schem, said at a news conference. “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 just over the border from Gaza that became the site of what is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history. At least 260 people were gunned down as heavily armed militants in trucks and on motorcycles barreled through the vast field on Kibbutz Re’im where thousands had gathered for a carefree night of electronic music.

Civilians and soldiers, young and old, Israelis and non-Israelis were among at least 199 people taken into captivity from Re’im and other 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 said. The United States (US) on Tuesday called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages, which include American citizens. “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,” US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on NBC’s “Today” show. “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 since the attack. The seizure of so many civilian hostages is unprecedented in Israel’s history, and interviews with relatives are broadcast throughout the day.

The Israeli military said Schem’s family was told of her abduction last week, and officials dismissed the video as propaganda designed to make Hamas look humane. Israeli officials have vowed to maintain a siege on Gaza until the hostages are released.

Mia Schem has dual 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 said at a news conference in Albania.

France, he added, was working with Israeli authorities and with Hamas through third parties to win the release of French and other hostages.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jamaica developing tool to assess health of island’s watershed and coastal regions
Latest News, News
Jamaica developing tool to assess health of island’s watershed and coastal regions
June 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is creating a Watershed Classification Tool to manage environmental issues in watersheds and coastal areas. This tool is d...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
St Vincent and the Grenadines pleased with tourism figures
Latest News, Regional
St Vincent and the Grenadines pleased with tourism figures
June 13, 2025
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — The St Vincent and the Grenadines government is predicting a continuation of the record-breaking stay-over arrivals duri...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
JAMP invites CSOs to apply for funding for projects
Latest News, News
JAMP invites CSOs to apply for funding for projects
June 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) has published a Call for Proposals offering financing to eligible civil society org...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Sir Geoff Palmer dies at 85
Latest News, News
Sir Geoff Palmer dies at 85
June 13, 2025
Scotland's first black professor, Sir Geoff Palmer, has passed away at the age of 85. He reportedly had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022. S...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US citizen fined for importing illegal drugs into Barbados
Latest News, Regional
US citizen fined for importing illegal drugs into Barbados
June 13, 2025
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — A United States (US) citizen on her first visit to Barbados has promised “never” to find herself in the same position aft...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Esher to defend Western Primary Champs title after one-year hiatus
Athletics, Latest News, Sports
Esher to defend Western Primary Champs title after one-year hiatus
PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com 
June 13, 2025
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Esher Primary of Hanover will start the defence of their Western Primary Schools Athletic Championship when it gets underway Frida...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Google rejects app store age verification for online content
International News, Latest News
Google rejects app store age verification for online content
June 13, 2025
PARIS, France (AFP) — American tech heavyweight Google on Friday reiterated its opposition to verifying the age of a device's user through the app sto...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘God’s Influencer’ to become first millennial saint in September
International News, Latest News
‘God’s Influencer’ to become first millennial saint in September
June 13, 2025
VATICAN CITY, Holy See (AFP) — Italian millennial Carlo Acutis, dubbed "God's Influencer", will be elevated to sainthood in September after the origin...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct