Thomas Hand: 'Until I see Emily’s blue eyes looking into my own, I won’t allow myself to believe anything'

Thomas Hand: 'Emily's mental and physical health is a constant question mark, and even if we get her back tomorrow, we’ll be dealing with the damage that has been done for the rest of our lives.' Picture: Norma Burke/PA Wire

The father of Gaza hostage Emily Hand has said he fears she might not be released during the current ceasefire.

Writing in a UK newspaper about the news that his nine-year-old daughter could be in the first tranche of hostages released as part of a ceasefire, Thomas Hand said he is concerned for her mental health.

He told the Independent.co.uk website: “Until I see Emily’s blue eyes looking into my own, I won’t allow myself to believe anything.” 

He also urged other families like his waiting for news to “keep a level head” and not be drawn into the wealth of “conflicting information” around about the hostages.

Irish-Israeli Emily, 9, is understood to be being held hostage by militants in Gaza after being captured in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7.

A four-day pause in the fighting was due to come into effect on Thursday, with the hostage releases taking place thereafter, but that choreography was hit with a late hitch.

A senior Israeli official has said the pause will now not take place until Friday at the earliest.

Emily is on a priority list, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said they are "hoping" she is going to be among the first released.

Mr Hand had initially been told she had died in the attack and described that as an “absolute blessing” because he believed being held hostage in Gaza would have been “worse than death”.

Writing on the Independent.co.uk website, Mr Hand said: “News that 50 Hamas hostages might soon be released as part of a four-day truce has given me a glimmer of hope – but also a new sickness in the depths of my stomach.

Emily Hand. Photo: Sky News

“What if Emily is not among those that her assailants choose to send home?

“The news has given us some hope that Emily might be among them.

“Her age and her gender will hopefully give her priority when the exchanges begin, but we can’t be certain.

“Until I see Emily’s blue eyes looking into my own, I won’t allow myself to believe anything.

“We’ll be carrying on this fight until we know for sure."

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He added: “In the meantime, I’m deeply concerned about her current condition and how this will affect her long-term.

“Her mental and physical health is a constant question mark, and even if we get her back tomorrow, we’ll be dealing with the damage that has been done for the rest of our lives.

“The fact is that there are dozens of other families like ours, waiting with bated breath for news that could be cause for relief or devastation.

“To them, I would say: try to keep a level head, even if it seems impossible.

“You’re going to hear so much conflicting information and, if you listen to all of it, you’re going to be an emotional wreck.

“They say it’s the hope that really gets you, and that’s true.

“For now, all we can do is wait, and hope that one day soon we’ll be able to give Emily that birthday celebration that was denied to her.”