Released Hostage Mia Schem has something to say.

[madaboutharry]

It’s important to me to reveal the real situation about the people who live in Gaza, who they really are, and what I went through there,” she told Channel 13 news. “I experienced hell. Everyone there are terrorists… there are no innocent civilians, not one,” she said. “[Innocent civilians] don’t exist.”

Then she was brought to be held in a family home, Schem told Channel 13, saying that the whole family was involved with Hamas, including the woman and children. “I began asking myself questions: Why am I in a family home? Why are there children here? Why is there a woman here?” she said.

She was kept in a room and was told she couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, couldn’t cry, couldn’t be seen, she recounted: “There’s a terrorist, who is watching you 24/7, who is raping you with his eyes… an evil stare. I was afraid of being raped. It was my biggest fear there.”

She said she did not shower the entire period in captivity, didn’t receive any medications or painkillers, and would receive food “sometimes.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-mia-schem-i-experienced-hell-everyone-in-gaza-is-a-terrorist/

Even with all the layers of anger, bitterness, and trauma, she knows she was one of the luckier ones who attended the Nova Festival. The friend she was with is dead.
I hope she can heal and find peace.

[hlthe2b]

1. I won't criticize her and hope she gets help to heal...

But for others to use her experience with a single Hamas-supporting family--used to extrapolate against an entire population-- is just wrong.

[Hekate]

7. She was transferred from family to family to family repeatedly. Same thing, always. Why do you doubt her experience?

Please read the whole interview at link.

[hlthe2b]

13. I do not doubt her experience as I very clearly said. I doubt the ability to extrapolate to an entire

population, of which more than 40% is under the age of 15 and prior to this whole horrendous episode was estimated at just over 2 million people (per our own US CIA estimates: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gaza-strip/#people-and-society ). I feel horrible for this woman. I feel horrible for the innocents of both Israel AND Gaza. To claim there are none of the latter is not merely wrong but inhuman.

[Ms. Toad]

16. Can you cut and paste where she discusses being transferred from family to family, please?

I read the interview twice and only saw her mention one family.

[ShazzieB]

23. Here you go.

It's kind of buried in the middle of the article.

Schem said she was later moved from home to home — via ambulance — and once even cooked a meal for the four Hamas terrorists who were holding her hostage, “and I made them see me in a different light. To respect me. They appreciate women who cook, who clean.”

There aren't many details about the other homes she was moved to, but I think it's clear that this did happen..

[NickB79]

26. Via ambulance to boot

Remember the outrage over the IDF claiming Hamas was using ambulances to move weapons and fighters?

There it is.

[Ms. Toad]

29. It does say she was moved from home to home,

But the description (both of how she was treated, and that the home included women and children) is only of a single home. It isn't clear to me, especialy from the last comment you quoted, that the later homes were families - as opposed to groups of terrorists.

I'm not questioning what she said - just the extrapolation by others from what she said. This sub-thread started with a contention that "transferred from family to family to family repeatedly. Same thing, always." While I see extensive descriptions of how a single family treated her, I don't see first person description of how multiple families treated her.

[Demsrule86]

77. It seems to me, you are seeking reasons to doubt her story. I don't doubt it. Why would she lie?

Hamas is an evil organization and it has support in GAZA. I do not understand why it was funded by Israel via other Arab countries.

[Ms. Toad]

98. I have not disputed a single fact attributed to her in the article.

What I am challenging are the extrapolations by others based on what she said.

(Her assertion that everyone in Gaza is a terrorist is not fact. It is her opinion based on the small sample she encountered. I accept that she everyone she encountered was a terrorist. That does not make it factual as applied to all of Gaza, unless she encountered every resident of Gaza)

[forthemiddle]

90. She also states that everyone are terrorists

“Everyone there are terrorists… there are no innocent civilians, not one,” she said. “[Innocent civilians] don’t exist“. So it goes to the statement that it wasn’t just that one single home.

[Ms. Toad]

97. Unless she has met every Palestinian, that is feeling - not fact.

She is entitled to her feelings & everyone she encountered may have been a terrorist.

But that doesn't make it fact that no one in Gaza is innocent. Nor can we bootstrap her statement that they are all terrorists into a statement about the composition of the other homes she was in.

[question everything]

25. Here with additional paragraphs . Read it again in the middle

Schem said she was later moved from home to home — via ambulance — and once even cooked a meal for the four Hamas terrorists who were holding her hostage, “and I made them see me in a different light. To respect me. They appreciate women who cook, who clean.”

She said that four or five days before she was released — at the start of the weeklong truce — she was sent to the Hamas tunnels: “No air, no food, with an open wound.”

There, for the first time since she was abducted, she met a handful of other Israeli hostages. On the one hand, she told Channel 13, she was happy to see them, but she also felt that some of them “had already lost hope… it was hard to be optimistic.”

[Ms. Toad]

32. I'm not contesting anything she actually said.

Including that she feels there are no innocent Gazans. That is her feeling - she is entitled to it.

My concern is the extrapolation by others from her description of treatment by a single family to being moved from family to family and treated by multiple families in the same way.

I get movement to more than one location, but there aren't any descriptions that suggest the later locations included women and children. They may well have - but I don't see any support for that in what she actually said.

[madaboutharry]

22. I think most see this as her story to tell.

Last edited Sat Dec 30, 2023, 12:04 AM - Edit history (1)

There is however much to support that there is no shortage of collaborators. One of the hostages released early on had actually escaped for four days. He was then kidnapped a second time and turned back over to Hamas.

Is every Gazan a terrorists or a Hamas sympathizer? It is fair to answer no.
But the images of celebration and the abusing of hostages as they were brought through the streets of Gaza on October 7th are not going to be forgotten any time soon.

[TomDaisy]

38. I would be kicked off DU if I said what I wanted to say right here.

[Cha]

54. Well Thanks for Kicking the Thread.

[hlthe2b]

73. Given I have actually worked in the Middle East, I don't need that from you.

Your post appears meant to attack me... No attempt to provide meaningful comment, but merely to attack. So, not worth my time.

[JI7]

61. Why don't we see or hear people protesting Hamas there ?

[intheflow]

75. First, it's hard to stage a protest when bombs are falling.

You’ve lost multiple friends and family, civilian communication structures are shattered and disrupted, you’re homeless, in diaspora, your kids are starving, and you’re all in a state of shock and trauma. But you expect them to have the bandwidth to organize a peace rally.

[JI7]

78. bombs weren't falling on oct 7

[intheflow]

108. No, but that's not what I was replying to.

The post I replied to wanted to know why Palestinians aren’t protesting now.

[JI7]

109. They weren't protesting on Oct 7 or anytime before

un the 15 years Hamas has been in power .
But we are supposed to believe they would be protesting right now but the Jews are preventing them from it.

[JustAnotherGen]

89. I don't expect that

I do expect a Nat Turner to rise up to liberate (at least TRY) their people (Gazans).

It was against the odds. But in this situation - Gazans would have the entire world having their backs.

[Demsrule86]

76. There is little doubt there is support for Hamas in Gaza...

The question is how much, and is it fear-driven? It is a mess. I can't understand why sending help in such a small country took hours.

[egduj]

113. Thank you for holding back your criticism of the victim.

[TheKentuckian]

116. It is so generous of you to refrain from criticizing her!

Are you sure though?

I'm sure any recommendations on how to be a better hostage would be seen as constructive!

[hlthe2b]

117. What is your motivation in misrepresenting my posts? Seriously? What?

It is very disingenuous to not include the full statement which does not at all criticize her and which in subsequent posts repeatedly reaffirmed the belief in her account and without question of her feelings at all.

I do, however, criticize those who take her horrific experience to extrapolate to an entire population--to specifically claim that there are NO innocent noncombatants in Gaza among the 2 million living there, of which 40% (US estimates) are less than 15 years of age. Those who do that are exploiting her horrific experience. That is shameful and indefensible. That demonizing, and dehumanizing of an entire population for the horrific violent acts of Hamas, some even claiming there are NO innocents even among young children is akin to the tactics we have seen to justify genocide in the past. No, I do not accuse Israel of doing that, but words do matter.

So too is it irresponsible to misrepresent the comments of others on this thread to make a point other than that which was very clearly indicated. And to do it in such a cynical seemingly mocking manner? What is the motivation?

[Beakybird]

2. This is very true. But it's telling that not one person in this family or any of her captors showed her any humanity.

[SoFlaBro]

12. That tells me everything that I need to know about the "resistance".

[RandomNumbers]

3. I won't believe that an 8 year old or younger isn't innocent

Sadly, it seems likely that many adults and older children there were indeed raised to hate Israelis.

What I cannot fathom is the utter cruelty and depravity displayed by the rapists. It seems clear that for them to rampage like they did and no one on their side said "hey, this is too much, we are better than that" - it says something about the environment. I am as anti-Hamas as anyone on this site.

But, there ARE innocents there - the babies and very young children for sure.

[David__77]

6. What about 9 year olds and older? Is it OK to treat them the same as combatants and blow them up?

[madaboutharry]

18. Why don't you write letters to all the hostages.

You can then confront them for the gall of being traumatized after having been held hostage by terrorists who starved them and abused them for months. Question their trauma after witnessing the darkest extremes of human depravity in the moments before they were kidnapped.

Apparently you don’t think Ms. Schem has the right to be distressed at this time in her life.

And by the way, Mia Schem was also not a combatant.

[David__77]

20. The question was posed as intended. We can say, if we choose, "no, we don't agree that babies in Gaza are terrorists".

[madaboutharry]

27. No one here is saying that babies are terrorists.

But I have yet to see a single post in which you have offered a single word of empathy for the victims of October 7th. What I have seen is a lot of whataboutism.
Maybe I have missed those posts, but I have reason to doubt I have.

[TomDaisy]

41. are you telling her what to say? is she required to say what you demand?

[madaboutharry]

43. Seriously?

What a ridiculous post.

This member has left a long trail of posts that has broadcasted exactly what their opinions are about this conflict. They can say whatever they want. I simply recognized the content.

[TomDaisy]

44. You'll find that when you stamp your feet and yell and demand other people

say what you want them to say --- they're going to refuse.

"No one is allowed to have an opinion different from mine!!!! Everyone else is WRONG and I'm right and you better say what I tell you to say and you better mean it!!!!!!"

Good luck with that.

Really.

Good luck.

[madaboutharry]

47. That is not what I wrote.

It is intellectually dishonest for you to put into quotes your misinterpretation of my words.
The only person stamping their feet and yelling is you.

This exchange is done.

[The Magistrate]

101. No One Is Required To Answer, Sir

Silence, of course, is an answer in itself sometimes. It can certainly convey something about a person's attitudes and views, and licenses considering what might lay behind a refusal to answer a straight question, or to acknowledge a fact contrary to the stand one takes in some matter.


"People who tell lies know what the truth is. People who tell half-lies forget where they put it."

[TomDaisy]

40. are we going to go through this again

[Cha]

56. Go through what again?

[Abolishinist]

63. Think.

Again.

[Hekate]

102. Intriguing

🤔

[lapucelle]

103. ...

[MarineCombatEngineer]

57. What are we going through again?

Do tell.

[The Magistrate]

42. This Is Bullshit, Sir, And I Expect You Know It

A person learning English, turned loose on many left forums, could be forgiven for taking 'innocent Palestinian' for a single word.

Let's sort out the semantic subterfuges.

Only members of Hamas, and close associates assisting them directly in auxiliary roles, can be classed as combatants. Other residents of Gaza are not combatants.

'Non-combatant' is not synonymous with 'innocent' in any moral sense. No one who felt a thrill of gleeful satisfaction at news of what Hamas did, no one who has echoed the sentiment 'we are a nation of martyrs', no one who believes 'we are victims, anything we do is justified', is in any meaningful sense innocent. In fact, if one looks at this with an eye towards moral responsibility, such people bear a foul and heavy burden. They are the soil from which the killers grow, provide the nutrients needed for the killers to thrive: without them, without their emotional support, the killers could not operate. You know this. I haven't yet seen any reason to suspect you are an idiot, and anyone who isn't an idiot knows this. You simply support a cause championed by sadistic killers flying the banner 'god is great!' as they murder, and this is something which, if you are to retain a self-image as a person devoted good and progress and all the rest, requires adopting a moral flexibility distasteful even to man able to hide behind a corkscrew without the slightest strain on the spine.

[Beetwasher.]

60. Damn, that's some good shit right there

Thank you, sir.

[ForgedCrank]

64. These are

words worth repeating.
There is a reason we don't see an armed resistance in Gaza trying to expel Hamas, and it isn't due to a lack of weaponry.
I'd be going too far to make a claim that all the citizens there are responsible, but I am convinced it is a vast majority.

[RandomNumbers]

87. I just picked 8 years old as an arbitrary point, that (hopefully) EVERYONE would agree on

Because it seems rather self-evident, no?

9 years, 10 years, and so forth - to a point - still works.

Obviously, the degree of agency increases with age. ALL of us are products of our genes and upbringing. Does that mean none of us can ever be guilty for our actions? So when does it start?

As a relevant side note - I am categorically opposed to the death penalty as a criminal punishment ordered by a court of law.

In matters between nations, I prefer peaceful solutions to acts of aggression, generally. Gandhi had the right idea. Although there was a lot more violence in that conflict than some fabulists might recognize. And I don't see Gazans or Palestinians or anyone in the Middle East adopting non-violent methods as a strategy anytime soon.

I also recognize and generally support the right of a nation state to defend itself.

Children are suffering and dying all around the world, for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes due to wars, declared or undeclared; many for lots of other reasons, some willed by others, some just bad luck of where they were born. I'd say the children in Gaza have been terribly unlucky. I feel for them - but also for the other terribly unlucky children all around the world. Gazan children at the moment are the victims of the adults in their lives. Full stop.

[cbabe]

4. I wonder how much duress the family was feeling. Like drug cartels taking over neighborhoods in Mexico for example.

[madaboutharry]

10. They starved her.

They taunted her with food. They denied her personal hygiene. The husband was Hamas and caused her to fear he would rape her.

Is it not possible to accept her story at face value?
Is it necessary to create a narrative to fit your bias?

Given your post, I think these are fair questions:
Would you have done this to make excuses for the Germans who turned the Jews into the Gestapo?
Would you say “oh, they were also afraid of the nazis, so they turned in their neighbors.”

[cbabe]

24. Comment 15

15. You are misinterpreting what others are saying. They are not doubting her statements.

[madaboutharry]

30. My post is in response to your post

in which you made excuses for the family’s mistreatment of her.

[cbabe]

31. Nope. I simply asked a question. Bye now.

[NotVeryImportant]

62. So you agree w/her...

That there's no innocent Palestinian citizens, right?

[madaboutharry]

65. This is Mia Schem's story, not mine.

She was the one held hostage for two months by terrorists.

And no, I do not think everyone in Gaza is a terrorist. I do think the majority of Gazans support Hamas.

[stopdiggin]

5. clearly not every Gazan is Hamas, or Hamas supporters ...

(regardless of this victim's experience - and with all due sympathy for a horrendous experience)

Having said that - the degree of extreme nationalist sympathy and ideology within the Palestinian population - is underestimated again, and again .. and again - by outside western observers.

Israel is an occupier - and the enemy - and it's pretty much just that simple. (in the eyes of a huge majority)

[PTL_Mancuso]

8. Vanishing very few have any desire to look through the eyes of the Gazan.

How about reading back in history, even in Western (anti-Palestinian biased) news reports for decades . If you are willing to remove the scales from your eyes, you will see that they have been systematically FU&*ed over time and time again. How in the heck would YOU feel if that happened to YOU?????? Like a VICTIM, ya think?

[crickets]

[Hekate]

11. Systematically screwed by the Egyptians & other Muslim nations, you mean? Pawns since 1948...

Very useful to the Arab nations to keep that pot always boiling.

[PTL_Mancuso]

37. Anyone doing the dehumanizing is at fault here!

This what-aboutism is BS!

It is clear (to me and the deniers who will deny it) just who has directly destroyed the Palestinian people, villages, farms, and businesses; who is most to blame here! It is very clear, through sentiments expressed in front of the world, just who hungers most for Palestinian dehumanization, destruction, and elimination. The others who look the other way are certainly accomplices (just like US was during WWII) but they are not the actual, ravenous, bloody-handed executioners (as were the Nazis in WWII).

I can NOT stand to see my tax monies, which I believe are excessive, sent to Israel (or any-damn-where like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Libya, CIA operatives in South and Central America, African countries, etc.) to mindlessly destroy innocent human beings: woman, children, men(!), grandparents, etc., that have been herded into ever-smaller patches of land, only to be consequently likewise destroyed.

The BS, the wanton falsehood, that all Gazans are guilty of the Oct. 7 atrocities, which is freely echo-chambered through the US/Euro media sickens me. We will NEVER hear about the monied folks in US and Europe that look the other way and work to send billions (theirs and ours) to the corrupt, genocidal, ethnic cleansing "democracy" to remove the native Palestinians and erase their memory. Face it! Regardless the rhetoric, they know what they want to bring about. And it ain't peace and co-existence.

This is exactly the kind of thing that Douglas Adams was referring to in his "Hyperspace Bypass" event in his Hitch-hiker guide books. The concept that "higher powers", arbitrary though they may be, can totally f*CK you up (and your country and planet) at random, with impunity. Too Bad!

DISCLAIMER: I am not Palestinian (G-d forbid!). I'm a Democrat. I am a peace-loving United States anti-war person and supporter who believes that bloodshed will never beget peace (without divine intervention, which actuarily speaking, ain't gonna happen). It is best not to hate or lie in the first place, so don't do it!

Peace unto you all and our world. And Best Wishes for a Happier New Year!

[The Magistrate]

71. Hamas, Dear, Has Done A Wonderful Job Of 'Dehumanizing' Palestinians

Anyone else who seeks to do that would be well advised to sit back and let the masters of the art do their thing....

Do you agree with any of these statements?

"We are a nation of martyrs."

"We are victims. Anything we do is justified."

"Palestine must be free from the river to the sea."


"Inquiring minds want to know!"

[Hekate]

105. Thank you, Sir

[Cha]

114. The Sadistic Butchers of HAMAS are the ONES That

Started this WAR and they are the ONES who said NO to Israel's Offer for an Humanitarian Ceasefire on December 20, 2023.

HAMAS doesn't give a Shit about the Palestinians.. kills them when they try to get Humanitarian Aid and uses them as Human Shields. .

And, Won't Give Up the Israeli Hostages that they Grabbed October 7th leaving behind Slaughtered bodies and Mutilated Dead Raped Women.

Good on Israel Eliminating those Savage Beasts by any Means Necessary... That's the Slogan of the Palestinians Protesting Against Israel.

[stopdiggin]

21. I would agree

Last edited Sat Dec 30, 2023, 03:06 AM - Edit history (1)

And at the same time, I think it is a huge mistake to misapprehend or disregard those sentiments.
(as I feel is too often the case. with a naivety showcased almost daily.) Let's at least be honest about bone deep passions and rancor. Because pretending that it doesn't exist - really serves none.

[NickB79]

28. The leaders of Hamas are billionaires

Living in exclusive villas in Qatar.

They got those billions from stealing it from the Palestinian people.

And the hundreds of miles of Hamas tunnels were built with billions more in aid stolen from them.

So tell me, who's fucked the Palestinians over more than Hamas themselves?

[EX500rider]

112. "you will see that they have been systematically FU&*ed over time and time again."

By Hamas, sure.
But when Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 they could have renounced rather then embraced terrorism, had a open border with Eygpt & Israel and worked on a successful economy and a better life for their citizens.

Instead they worked on various Intifada's and got their borders rightly closed (by Eygpt too) and crushed their own economy.

Pretending to be perpetual refugees for 75 years even though they started out in Palestine and are still in Palestine isn't helping either, where do they expect to return to, the British Mandate? Cause that's not happening.

[Hekate]

9. Recommend that the doubters of this young woman read the whole damn article & interview at link

[hlthe2b]

15. You are misinterpreting what others are saying. They are not doubting her statements.

They are clarifying the fact that not all 2 million Gazan civilians are extremist Hamas terrorists--particularly the children. Please STOP IT. Mischaracterizing the comments of other DUers--however unintentional or emotion-driven-- does nothing but create division and that is far from helpful.

[Hekate]

36. Clarified indeed. I feel like I can look through the "just asking questions" & the "whatabouts" & "bothsides "

…like a window. And it’s just kind of sick.

But you carry on. I know you all mean well. Yes.

[hlthe2b]

74. You accuse fellow Duers who express concern for both the hostages and Gazan children of being

"sick?" Please take a break before saying more, Hekate. I understand the emotion, but this is not you. I'm sorry for the pain you feel, but it is shared by nearly all here.

[Beastly Boy]

39. The question is, why would clarifying this fact be warranted in response to an emotional testimony of a victim?

She is not reporting on the statistical data she gathered in her captivity.

[David__77]

17. I don't agree that babies in Gaza are terrorists.

[emulatorloo]

33. Strawman. Nowhere does the hostage say "babies in Gaza are terrorists."

Nor have any DU’ers said babies are terrorists, which you seem to imply.

You obviously did not read the article.

[RandomNumbers]

93. Direct quote:

(from the excerpt in the OP):

“I experienced hell. Everyone there are terrorists… there are no innocent civilians, not one,” she said. “[Innocent civilians] don’t exist.”

"Everyone there" would include all persons, and babies are persons. Now to be fair, if you asked her directly if she thought babies are terrorist, she would probably say no. While being appalled at the nit picking, probably, and fairly.

I posted above that babies and children to a certain age should not be held responsible. I don't otherwise discount her story at all; her experience was undoubtedly horrific; and I don't have a problem with her expression of her feelings about it. But those of us further from the story do need to consider the more nuanced aspects of the problems.

(N.B.: In case it isn't clear, I am anti-Hamas and support the right of Israel to defend itself. The suffering of the innocent children of Gaza is the fault of Hamas. But that said, it is counter-factual to deny that there are innocents suffering in this conflict; and also counter-factual to deny that her words posted in the OP would technically include babies.)

[Deep State Witch]

86. Believe Women

Unless they're Jewish.

[LymphocyteLover]

14. what an important story and obviously a horrible ordeal

[COL Mustard]

19. I can't begin to imagine the psychological trauma

These people went through, let alone the physical trauma.

I read part of the NYT article about sexual violence and how some of the Israelis soldiers were shot in their vaginas. Disgusting. I hate to dehumanize people, but Hamas aren't even human. No human could do this to another. They are savages. I'm sorry for true civilian casualties but they had to know this was coming. It's all sickening.

[JustAnotherGen]

34. What you permit you promote

I would hope everyone would take a few minutes and read the entire article.

She's telling us what it is like in Hamas controlled Gaza when the cameras aren't on.

[JI7]

59. yup, the propaganda being spread by Hamas and their filthy supporters when some hostages were released

was how they were happy and smiling and this filth made memes saying they(female hostages) wanted to marry them(Hamas) .

[JustAnotherGen]

88. They are terrorists

It's to be expected. I make no distinction between Hamas and the Klu Klux Klan.

[betsuni]

35. K&R

[GuppyGal]

46. Yeah let's cut the bullshit here ....What Mia Schem said.

[SoFlaBro]

82. She's right. Cut the fucking shit. These demonstrations are now dancing at the 9/11 Memorial. Shit behavior. Done w/them

[Oneironaut]

92. You think every civilian in Gaza is a terrorist?

Surely you can’t believe that, right?

[sarisataka]

48. "Everything we do is justified" -Hamas

Perhaps my memory is failing, but I don't recall such vehement assertations about the noncombatant status of murdered Israeli children when Hamas claimed they killed only current or future IDF members.

IIRC the reports of murdered children were dismissed as propaganda and pictures of the bodies were demanded as proof.

[Cha]

67. Fuck NO, Medieval Mutilatinig Savage Beasts..

Rape of any kind of NOT Resistance. you Stupid Motherfuckers.

[sarisataka]

68. By any means neccessary

A banner seen at several "pro-Palestinian" protests



Note the map on the left which appears to clearly define what is meant by "From the river to the sea", contrary to the gaslighting we often hear...

[Cha]

69. Yeah, Well IDF says

Backatcha!

Adn that HANAS Shit wasn't "Necessary"

TY

[revmclaren]

49. Such a horrendous ordeal and probably many

other tragedies still to be told.

With each victims story, the myth of the totally innocent and uninvolved Gazans is scraped away just a little bit more.

Now Qatar is saying Hamas is willing to begin talks again about the release of more hostages. I hope this dosn't turn out to be another sham ceasefire easily broken by the Hamas liars and that there are still living hostages to be released.

Mia and all of the other victims deserved more than being terrorist game pieces and objects of barter for Hamas's terrorist demands.



🕍

[LexVegas]

50. This thread. Wow. nt

[revmclaren]

53. I know...wow indeed.

When the other hostages, the ones not totally emotionally or physically destroyed that is...when they begin telling their stories, its going to even get crazier here...or totally silent from many posters.

Strange, in the recent past, when a woman stated that she had been abused physically or sexually, DUers immediately jumped to her defense...even if the accused was rich, famous, popular...there was always support.

But when a Jewish woman held hostage by murderous scum terrorists details the horrific experience she has had at the hands of the Hamas terrorists and their obvious supporters, proof is somehow needed or excuses are made for the Gazans involved.

As I said...wow indeed.

[JI7]

58. Yes, I saw more sympathy for the one that accused Biden . I forgot her name but I think she

ran away to Russia.

[betsuni]

66. Tara Reade, yes, she had a lot of support. Chris Hayes, The Young Turks, etc.

I'm sure she's very happy in Russia.

[Jedi Guy]

70. Wow. Do better. N/T

[LeftInTX]

52. They are not treated well

They crudely amputated Noa's foot, so she wouldn't escape, then killed her.

Not one hostage got a shower or clean clothes until it was time for their release. Some were in cold dark tunnels for two months.
Their treatment varied. Some had mean captors who would not let them talk with other captives. The little American girl got lucky because another hostage was one of her school teachers. She did well. However, most ended up with sensory depravation. They aren't allowed to watch TV. Can't read. They sit there all day. They are told to sleep during the day and stay awake at night. Any medical care is crude. One 85 yo man died of natural causes, likely due to stress and lack of meds etc. Hamas made a video of him dying. (death rales and all) Hamas stated he died of a panic attack from hearing Israeli bombs. (BS)

The little Irish girl did not know how to smile and all she could do was whisper when she was released.

One women was returned in critical condition from a chronic heart condition. She hadn't received her meds. Most hostages that needed meds did not receive them or they received an inappropriate substitution.

Hamas refused to contact the ICRC to obtain the meds for the hostages. This was a violation of international law.

[Mountainguy]

91. Imagine the outrage

especially on this board if the IDF were accused of taking an old man into captivity, not giving him medical attention, and then making a video of him dying. I bet words like "war crime" and "pure evil" would get tossed around.

[JI7]

55. The UN and other International orgs also

[limbicnuminousity]

72. Honestly

I'm disturbed by how closely my views on American police resemble Mrs. Schem's views on Hamas.

My heart goes out to the hostages and all of the innocents caught up in this cluster-f*** of a humanitarian nightmare.

[SocialDemocrat61]

79. Glad she survived

Hope she is able to heal

[purr-rat beauty]

80. It has been no secret...

to what horrors humans are willing to put others through

Both sides are complicit in this horrific event and continued depraved shared existence.
HAMAS is a monster and Israel helped birth it

Ever heard of Rachel Corrie?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Corrie

[Nanjeanne]

81. What this woman endured is horrific. She deserves nothing but compassion. Of course she was

kept with Hamas supporters. It would have been insane to house her with non Hamas supporters.

To extrapolate anything about Gazans from this is wrong. Her experience was and I’m sure is the stuff of nightmares. That is, in and of itself, a horror I hope she can heal from.

Gazan children are experiencing their own horrors and I know I can feel compassion for them as well. Which is why I have no desire to see this endless horror inflicted on Israelis and Palestinians.

I posted in another thread a poll prior to the war and Hamas had only 30% support amongst Gazans. A minority. Since the war - their support has increased significantly. That is the nightmare that needs to end. And that is what I learn from reading her dreadful story of all she has endured.

[LexVegas]

83. Seeing people twist themselves into a pretzel to apply both siderism to what this woman went through.....

[Nanjeanne]

84. People are not doing that at all. People reacted to her terrible story with compassion. That there are

other issues people discuss isn’t both sides. There is only one side to her story here on DU. Compassion. On DU I only see people expressing horror at what she endured. On DU I have never seen compassion for Hamas. What I see, and applaud, is the ability of some people on DU having compassion and a desire for peace for many. - for this young woman. And others.

[lapucelle]

104. "I won't criticize her and hope she gets help to heal,

but..."

The first 4 words in the very first reply:

"I won't criticize her.."

[Cha]

106. Oh there's more..

[hlthe2b]

118. No. There is not.

[hlthe2b]

115. Very disingenuous to not include the full statement which does not at all criticize her

Last edited Sun Dec 31, 2023, 06:37 PM - Edit history (1)

and which in subsequent posts repeatedly reaffirmed the belief in her account and without question of her feelings at all.

I do, however, criticize those who take her horrific experience to extrapolate to an entire population--to specifically claim that there are NO innocent noncombatants in Gaza among the 2 million living there, of which 40% (US estimates) are less than 15 years of age. Those who do that are exploiting her horrific experience. That is shameful and indefensible. That demonizing, and dehumanizing of an entire population for the horrific violent acts of Hamas, some even claiming there are NO innocents even among young children is akin to the tactics we have seen to justify genocide across the world by murderous factions in the past. No, I certainly do not accuse Israel of doing that, but words do matter.

So too it is irresponsible to misrepresent the comments of others on this thread to make a point other than that which was very clearly indicated. Focus your anger and contempt at Hamas--not your fellow DUers and especially not in such a disingenuous and unfair manner.

[Cha]

94. Yes, Deflection , both sides, and Denial.

[hlthe2b]

119. A lot of misrepresentation (both unintentional and intentional) to incite and divide us, that is clear.

I'd like to think all of us could work together to diminish this. Your fellow DUers are not your enemy, Cha. I certainly am not.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

85. Mia Shem on #Israeli TV tonight, reveals more details about her 54-day #Hamas captivity in #Gaza.

Link to tweet

[Cha]

95. Mahalo LMPV

[revmclaren]

96. Saturday morning KICK to keep this important thread trending.

🕍

[revmclaren]

107. New Years Eve Kick to keep this important thread alive

🕍

[Cha]

120. Mahalo, Rev..

May this New Year bring you and yours health and happiness.. And America Free from Fascism.

[crim son]

110. I can't imagine the horror she experienced

so I will disregard her insane claim that there are not innocents in Gaza. And as always, I wonder how different these people would be if they were not slowly being pushed out of their homes and away from their land.

[madaboutharry]

111. More victim blaming.

[egduj]

121. Still not enough people seeing this.

[Cha]

122. Mahalo egduj🕊️🕯️🇮🇱💙🌊

[betsuni]

124. +1

[DavidDvorkin]

123. She has something to say, but too many are covering their ears to avoid hearing.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

125. The full 30 minute interview with former Hamas hostage Mia Schem is out with English subtitles.

Link to tweet

[revmclaren]

126. Tuesday morning Kick.

Let's keep this important thread going. 🕍

[revmclaren]

127. Mid week Kick to get this post trending again.

Come on DUers, don't let this important story be shoved to the side!

😥🕍