Former hostage Mia Schem recounts survival, captivity and path to healing
Mia Schem, the first hostage shown in a Hamas video after the Oct. 7 attacks, described her escape, months in Gaza tunnels and ongoing recovery at a Toronto event.
During the Oct. 7 assault, Mia Schem and Elia Toledano tried to escape the Nova music festival, but their car was hit, flipped and they were seized by Hamas militants. Schem was dragged into a truck with seven captors, later confined in a Gaza residence and then a cramped tunnel cage for 55 days, receiving no medical care. She was freed on Nov. 30, 2023, while Toledano’s body was returned in December.
In November 2024 she addressed the UN Security Council, condemning the ongoing hostage crisis. At a July 2024 Toronto gathering organized by Tribe of Nova Canada, she recounted the harrowing details, emphasized her reliance on faith and gratitude, and urged the world to see her story as a universal human experience rather than solely an Israeli one. She highlighted the lasting trauma and the support from family, friends and global sympathizers that fuels her hope.
Why it matters
Her testimony personalizes the Oct. 7 hostage crisis and underscores the long-term impact on survivors.
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