House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has extended an invitation to Mia Schem, an Israeli woman who endured captivity at the hands of Hamas, to attend President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address. Schem was held hostage during the October 7 Hamas massacre, where more than 1,200 Israelis were targeted. She suffered a gunshot wound during her seizure from the Supernova music festival and developed epilepsy during her 54-day captivity, which lasted until November 30.
Representative Johnson expressed pride in standing with Schem, emphasizing the importance of demanding the release of all hostages still held captive by Hamas. He highlighted the ongoing fight to bring them home and underscored the need for solidarity with those affected by Hamas terrorism.
Mia Schem, recounting her traumatic experience, aims to shed light on the true nature of life in Gaza, asserting that everyone there is a terrorist, with no innocent civilians. Her attendance at the State of the Union is seen as an opportunity to raise awareness about the terrors perpetrated by Hamas and the plight of the hostages. Johnson, along with Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY), has also invited the mother and brother of Omer Neutra, another hostage still held by Hamas.
The lawmakers, including North Carolina GOP senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, as well as Democrats like Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others, stress the importance of remembering and advocating for the hostages and their families. They hope that the faces of the Neutras and other families represented at the State of the Union will serve as a reminder of America’s commitment to bringing their loved ones home safely. The ordeal faced by these families is described as horrifying, with a call for continued efforts to secure the release of the Americans held hostage by Hamas for over 150 days.
