Father of Irish-Israeli child hostage Emily Hand says he is living through ‘nightmare’

Family members of Israeli hostages who are currently being held in Gaza, Thomas Hand (second right) (Victoria Jones/PA)

The father of a nine-year-old Irish-Israeli child who was taken hostage during the Hamas assault on Israel has said he will believe a deal to release hostages is in place “when I see it”.

Thomas Hand initially thought his daughter Emily, who had been attending a sleepover at a friend’s house, had been killed on October 7, but was later told she had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri and taken to Gaza.