Father relieved over death: Nine-year-old boy believed dead back with family

The father was relieved in death
A nine-year-old believed to be dead has returned to her family

November 26, 2023, 4:10 am

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After the Hamas bloodbath at Kibbutz Biri, Emily Hand was first presumed dead – her father was sadly relieved. It later becomes clear that the nine-year-old boy is in the Gaza Strip. After weeks of uncertainty, the family is now reunited.

Emily Hand was freed by Hamas after 50 days of captivity in the Gaza Strip. The nine-year-old girl was initially presumed dead. After the Hamas attack on Israel, her Irish father Thomas Hand said in an emotional television interview that his daughter had not fallen into the hands of Hamas. “It is worse than death”. Three weeks later they said Could be a hostage in the Gaza Strip Kidnapped.

“Emily is back to us!” His family wrote in a statement from the headquarters of the Hostages and Missing Persons Forum on Saturday evening. “We cannot find the words to describe our feelings after 50 difficult and complicated days. We are so happy to be able to hug Emily again.”

Emily Hand was abducted from Kibbutz Biri, where she was staying with a friend. She was nine years old at the time of her capture, which was celebrated with a party in Dublin a week and a half ago. Last week, Thomas Hand made an emotional plea calling for his daughter’s release, saying the family was living through a nightmare.

See you again at the hospital

On Saturday evening, the Red Cross brought a total of 13 Israelis – including four German-Israelis – and four Thai citizens across the border into Egypt. After crossing the border, the hostages were taken to a hospital in Israel. At the hospital, Emily was reunited with her father and two siblings, the Irish Times reported. In one photo, the two can be seen sitting side by side, looking happy, with Emily holding a teddy bear in her arms. According to media reports, the Irish-Israeli child’s mother died several years ago.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar X wrote: “This is a day of great joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent missing child has now been found and returned and we breathe a sigh of relief.”

Emily Hand’s family wrote in the statement that their thoughts are with all the hostages who have not yet returned. “We will do everything we can to bring her home.” 24 hostages, including four German-Israelis, had already been freed on Friday. On October 7, Hamas militants abducted 240 people into the Gaza Strip. Emily was abducted from her home in the kibbutz.