Hamas releases footage of Israeli hostage

By Zein Khalil

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Palestinian group Hamas released a video late Monday of an Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip.

The footage shows a 21-year-old woman being treated after she was wounded in her right arm.

The hostage, a dual Israeli-French citizen who gave her name as Mia Schem, said she was operated on for three hours by her captors.

“I underwent surgery on my arm at the hospital (in Gaza) for three hours. They are taking care of me, giving me medicine. Everything is fine. I only ask that they bring me home as soon as possible to my parents, to my siblings. Get me out of here as soon as possible. Please,” she said.

On Monday, Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said 200-250 Israelis are being held captive by Palestinian groups in Gaza.

A spokesman for the group said 200 people are being held by Hamas, while 50 others are being held by other Palestinian factions.

According to the spokesman, 22 Israeli prisoners have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Ten days into the conflict Hamas, the Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out as civilians flee to its southern region following an Israeli warning to evacuate its northern areas.

The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

At least 2,808 Palestinians including 750 children have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed.