A former Hamas hostage named Mia Shem has criticized the United Nations and other advocacy groups for their lack of action in helping hostages still held in Gaza. Speaking outside the United Nations Security Council in New York on November 6, Shem expressed disappointment with the UN’s failure to provide assistance to those in captivity.
Shem, a 22-year-old Israeli-French dual national who was released in November 2023, shared the hardships she faced during her captivity, including isolation, lack of medical treatment, and intimidation by armed captors. She questioned the absence of humanitarian agencies like the Red Cross and the UN in demanding access to hostages like herself.
She recounted her ordeal of being kept alone for 50 days, suffering from untreated pain in her hand while facing a gun-wielding Hamas terrorist. Despite her worsening condition, she received no medical treatment or aid from any humanitarian organization.
After her abduction, Shem was held in a Palestinian home where she endured harassment from an adult and taunts from a child. She stated, “There are no innocents in Gaza, not even one.”
Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, also criticized the UN for its inaction, calling it a “complete moral failure.” He emphasized the UN’s silence on the issue as unforgivable.
While the UN Security Council has issued statements urging Hamas to release Israeli hostages, no concrete actions or sanctions have been proposed to enforce these demands, as reported by the New York Post.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cited its neutral humanitarian stance as the reason for not taking a stronger public position, although they expressed a willingness to visit Israeli captives.
Amidst a year-long Israeli offensive in Gaza, over 43,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed, leading to mass displacement and destruction of infrastructure. The conflict escalated following Hamas’ attack on a music festival in southern Israel, resulting in casualties and additional hostages being taken.
