After a harrowing ordeal, Mia Schem, a 21-year-old Israeli-French tattoo artist, has found solace and strength in a touching memorial tattoo, paying tribute to the friends she lost during the Tribe of Nova desert event on October 7. Mia, along with several others, was taken hostage by Hamas during the music festival, leading to a tragic series of events that claimed the lives of hundreds of Israelis.
Released during a brief cease-fire between Israel and the terror group on November 30, Mia chose to immortalize the resilience of the human spirit with a poignant tattoo that reads, “We will dance again,” accompanied by the significant date, 7.10.23. Her Instagram post unveiling the tattoo reflects the indomitable spirit that emerged from the pain and fear of the October 7 incident.
In Mia’s words: “I will never forget October 7, 2023. The pain and the fear, the difficult sights, the friends who won’t come back, and those we must bring back. But we will win; we will dance!”
The abduction from the music festival resulted in a disturbing video shared by Hamas, showcasing Mia receiving treatment from a vet for a wound on her right arm. Transported to Gaza after being injured, she underwent a three-hour surgery to address undisclosed injuries. In a heartfelt plea from Gaza, Mia longed to return home to her family.
Since her release, Mia has been reunited with her family, but the trauma of the terror group’s actions lingers. Mia’s aunt, Vivian Hadar, described her as “thin and weak.” A veterinarian performed the necessary surgery on her arm, and Mia has been engaging in physiotherapy while providing self-care through hand massages.
Reflecting on Mia’s resilience, Hadar mentioned that her niece is not ready to delve into the details of her roughly 50 days in captivity. The family, sensitive to Mia’s emotional state, has refrained from pressing her on the matter, recognizing the challenges she faces in processing the traumatic experience.
In the face of adversity, Mia Schem’s tattoo symbolizes triumph over tragedy, embodying the human spirit’s capacity to endure, heal, and ultimately dance again.