Israeli Hostage’s Lack of Makeup Presented as Evidence of Hamas Abuse
Israeli “influencers” and media propagandists are claiming Hamas abused Israeli captive Mia Schem, 21, because after she was released on Thursday she didn’t look as glowing as she did previously on her Instagram.
“Every time I look at a hostage’s face before and after they’re released from Hamas captivity my heart shatters,” pro-Israel activist Hen Mazzig of the Tel Aviv Institute said Thursday on X. “What have they gone through to turn a beautiful girl full of life into this. The pictures of Mia Schem that was released today will never leave me.”
Every time I look at a hostage’s face before and after they’re released from Hamas captivity my heart shatters.
What have they gone through to turn a beautiful girl full of life into this.
The pictures of Mia Schem that was released today will never leave me 💔 pic.twitter.com/PtUNr7LGro
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) November 30, 2023
The whole “Instagram vs Reality” meme is now being used as proof of Hamas torture.
Al Jazeera live broadcasting doesn’t feature instagram filters unfortunately https://t.co/P9OhbNoe7u
— Hadi Nasrallah (@HadiNasrallah) November 30, 2023
The Daily Mail used this same line in their reporting on Schem’s release, writing: “Two women hostages look pale and terrified as they are freed by Hamas and paraded through huge baying mob – including Mia Schem, 21, who was forced to appear in propaganda video showing her injuries.”
They seem to have realized how stupid (not to mention insulting) this was as they changed the headline and removed all references to her appearance:
She could look exactly the same using the same makeup and Instagram/FaceApp filters today.
Listen to what Mia Schem actually said.
People were very good, very kind to me.
כולו תמם
Food was good.
The kindness… everything was good. https://t.co/5LY5zrluyB pic.twitter.com/EW2D5WSSRZ— Thoton Akimoto 🇯🇵🇵🇸 فلسطين (@AkimotoThn) November 30, 2023
Under Hamas, Mia Schem had a specific kind of surgery to place an Ex Fix that only an orthopedic surgeon can perform. While Gazan doctors were scrambling under severe shortages, this POW got the literal 5 star treatment to save mobility in her arm. Compare w/ Isra Jaabis: https://t.co/DhaVnwMnu0 pic.twitter.com/lZnUmO8IR8
— Dalia (@TheBlahDalia) November 30, 2023
What would the reaction be by these same actors if Hamas started putting makeup on all their hostages before they were released and used Instagram filters to “beautify” them in their videos?
The Israeli government threw a fit last month over the “PR disaster” of freed captive Yocheved Lifshitz detailing how Hamas treated her and fellow captives “very nicely” and “were very delicate and gentle with them and took care of all their needs.”
“They gave us pitta bread, hard cheese, some low fat cream cheese, and cucumber and that was our food for the entire day.”
Freed Hamas hostage Yocheved Lifshitz recounts her experience saying “there were people there who took care of all the needs.”
🔗 https://t.co/ViphYGDoVz pic.twitter.com/FNxgBznX0F
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 24, 2023
In response to the incident, Israel created a new “protocol” to coach all their captives upon release before allowing them to talk to the media.
🚨 BREAKING: THE MOST BIZARRE HOSTAGE RELEASE 🇵🇸🇮🇱
Jokes, smiles, handshakes & even hugs! Have we ever witnessed prisoners treat their captors like this? This is why Israel won’t allow these hostages to give interviews.
Compare this to how Palestinian hostages are treated by 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/58zUd1DJCn
— Majid Freeman (@Majstar7) November 30, 2023
Hi @Disney 👋
Are you OK with your logo being used to spread terrorism-supporting propaganda?
👇 pic.twitter.com/WPISLsJbr1— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) November 30, 2023
From The New Arab, “Released hostages forced into media silence as Israel tightens control on interviews”:
A report from Israeli news channel Channel 12 noted that Israeli authorities had arranged a special media process for the hostages’ post-release, in order to ensure they remain in control of the narrative.
It said that medical officials will first assess whether the released hostages were fit enough to be questioned about their ordeal by Israel’s national security branch, Shin Bet. The children who were taken hostage will also undergo questioning by special child investigators.
Crucially, the Channel 12 report noted that Israeli authorities had sought to control the narrative following criticism by Israeli commentators for what they said was a careless handling of Lifshitz’s press conference.
It said media interviews will not be banned for abductees, but closely supervised.
“Despite the anger after Yochaved Lifshitz’s press conference upon her release, this time too there will be no ban on media interviews of the abductees,” the report said.
“However, they are expected to receive close supervision, and they will be instructed on what to tell the media and what not.”
