Mia Schem, a survivor of Hamas captivity, attended the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday evening, but security officials at the event confiscated a ribbon she was carrying that read "Bring Them Home" — a slogan associated with calls for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
According to Schem's local liaison in France, the ribbon was found during a routine security check as Schem arrived at the venue. "The ribbon was in Mia’s bag when security inspected her," the liaison confirmed. "They took it and told her she couldn’t walk the red carpet with it."
As of Saturday night, the ribbon remained in the possession of Cannes security personnel.
While Schem complied with the request and handed over the ribbon, she chose to continue wearing a small pin bearing the image of the hostages — a visible statement she carried with her onto the red carpet.
Schem, 23, was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during the deadly attack on the Nova music festival near the Gaza border. A dual French-Israeli citizen, she was wounded and taken into Gaza, where she was held in captivity for 55 days.
Since her release, Schem has become a vocal figure in efforts to raise awareness about the remaining hostages and has participated in advocacy campaigns, including international events.
