'Our bodies hurt from crying' say family of Irish-Israeli girl kidnapped by Hamas
Thomas Hand (right) and Natali Hand. Picture: Norma Burke/PA Wire
The Irish father of an eight-year-old girl who is believed to be held captive by Hamas has asked for a renewed focus on the Israeli hostages taken to Gaza.
Emily Hand was originally feared dead after the Hamas assault on Kibbutz Be'eri in Israel on October 7.
However, the eight-year-old's family have been informed she may still be alive and being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
On October 7, Hamas launched thousands of rockets and militants killed 1,400 Israeli civilians, as well as taking an estimated 200 other citizens hostage to Gaza.
Israel has responded with missile attacks and a blockade on the war-torn enclave, as part of an operation to target Hamas's leaders and operations.
More than 11,000 people have been killed in the region and aid agencies have warned that low supplies of food, water, and medicines are creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Thomas Hand, originally from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, described his daughter Emily as a "fun-loving child" who loves music, dancing and singing.
"Even my dog misses her. She used to use him as a pillow, stick her head down and fall asleep. Funny, the things that you miss, and now she's kidnapped in Gaza along with many others.
"I want to hug Emily again, love her, fix her."
He was speaking in Dublin on Monday after travelling there along with his older daughter Natali in order "to drum up as much sympathy and support" as possible.
Similar events are being held in other Israeli embassies to raise the case of citizens feared kidnapped during the attack over a month ago.
Imagining being reunited with Emily, he said: "I'm going to hold her forever. I'm never going to let her go."
He said he is "very happy" with the Government's efforts to free hostages, and said they have been doing "a lot", adding that the Irish ambassador to Israel, Sonya McGuinness, had visited them to give them the "little information" she had.
Asked whether he is afraid of rockets being launched in Gaza while his daughter is in the enclave, he said: "I'm sure Emily was taken by the Hamas, not the Palestinian people, by the Hamas - and they'll be safe down in the tunnels with the Hamas, they'll be safe down there."
He added: "I feel sorry for the Palestinian people. They're suffering for what Hamas is doing to them. They say that we're the occupiers, we're not the occupiers, Hamas is the occupiers."
Natali Hand said she was in Australia when the Hamas attack happened, and got a video call from Emily who told her that her friend's house, where she had been staying the night, was burning.
"She was asking me why I didn't take her to Australia.
"Our bodies hurt from crying, we have no tears left," said Natali, whose mother was killed on October 7.
She said they wanted to keep the international focus on the kidnapped children in particular.
"They shouldn't be suffering because of politics, it has nothing to do with that," she said.
"We'll do everything we can to get her back."
Eylon Keshet also spoke of his cousin Yarden Bibas, his wife Shiri Bibas and their sons Ariel, four, and 10-month-old Kfir, who are feared kidnapped in Gaza.
"Release them. I want them back," he said.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has promised to do everything possible to secure Emily's release saying he "believes in his heart" that the child is still alive.
Leo Varadkar will meet Mr Hand on Monday evening. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Varadkar said: "Emily Hand who will be nine years old this week, is an Irish citizen, an Irish passport holder and we will do all that we can to find out information about her whereabouts, we believe she is alive and well, I believe she is in my heart and I know her father does too.
"I'm very keen to do anything we can through intermediaries to secure her release or at least secure some information about her. I've already raised the issue with the Palestinian prime minister in Paris on Thursday, also with the Egyptian prime Minister," he told reporters in Government Buildings.
The Taoiseach confirmed that the Government will not be voting with the Opposition later this week on a number of motions relating to Israel's actions in Gaza.
"We're not going to vote for them," he said when asked about Sinn Féin and Social Democrats motions, adding that position opposition parties are taking "really makes no sense".
He said: "On the one hand, they want us to do everything we can to get our citizens out of Gaza, to get Emily Hand released, to be part of the peace process that will bring peace to Israel and Palestine. At the same time they want to cut off links to Israel by expelling their ambassador, which would result in our ambassador being expelled from there. It just doesn't make sense."
He added: "I think what we're seeing from the opposition parties is PBP trying to outflank Sinn Féin and Holly trying to outflank Mary Lou and it's not helpful at all."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
