Found 8YO Irish girl living in Israel, whose dad said her death by Hamas was ‘best possibility,’ now believed to be alive

[Sugar Cookie]

An Irish Israeli girl who was reported killed by Hamas — and whose dad said it was a “blessing” that she had died and had not been taken captive — is apparently alive after all and being held hostage by the terrorists, according to her family.

Emily Hand, 8, was reported to have been killed at Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas invasion, but Israeli officials recently notified her family that she is among the hostages.

“We were told that she had been murdered. We were in mourning,” said Emily’s half-sister, Natalie, 26, according to the Times of Israel. “On Oct. 31, they told us that it was highly likely that she had been abducted.”

In a direct message to Emily, her half-sister said: “I want to tell you that we are doing everything to get you home. We know you are being held hostage. We love you so much and miss you.”

The Irish Embassy in Israel also confirmed to Irish broadcaster RTÉ that Emily was abducted and not killed.

A diplomatic official told the outlet that tests had shown her DNA was not found among the victims at the kibbutz.

Days after the attack, Emily’s Irish father, Tom, gave an emotional interview to CNN about what he believed to be her death.

He said Emily had gone to stay at a friend’s house at the kibbutz and that two days later, the Israeli authorities told him they believed she was dead.

“When we found out that Emily was dead, we went ‘Yes!’ and smiled, because that is the best news of the possibilities I knew,” Tom told the outlet at the time.

“If you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death. That is worse than death, the way they treat you. They’d have no food, they’d have no water … she’d be in a dark room … and terrified every minute, hour, day, and possible years to come, so death was a blessing. An absolute blessing,” he added.

Natalie’s boyfriend, Natty Virado, 28, confirmed to the Irish Times on Sunday that the family was informed that Israeli intelligence believes there is a “high chance” that Emily is being held in Gaza along with her friend and the friend’s mother.

“This story just keeps piling up. This nightmare is coming to life. Thomas is holding up, we’re all holding up. Everyone in the family is dealing with their own grief and doing their best,” Virado said.

He also called on the Irish government to do everything it can to help.

Three days ago, Tom said on social media that Narkis, the mother of his two older children, had been “definitely murdered” by Hamas — adding that Emily’s reported death had been “an identity mistake.”

On Oct. 7, Tom entered his shelter during a rocket barrage from Gaza while his daughter was at a sleepover at her friend’s house.

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8-year-old Irish girl living in Israel, whose dad said her death by Hamas was ‘best possibility,’ now believed to be alive

An Irish-Israeli girl who was reported killed by Hamas – and whose dad said it was a “blessing’ she had died and not taken captive – is apparently alive after all and being held hostage.

nypost.com

 

[thuumpr]

My! How awkward!

 

[myra manes]

My! How awkward!

Not really.

We have no idea how the hostages are being treated.

He was correct in his initial thoughts.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A 9-year-old girl who was initially thought to have been killed when Hamas stormed a kibbutz on Oct. 7 — an outcome her father said at the time was the “best possibility” — was among the 17 hostages freed as part of a temporary cease-fire Saturday.

Irish Israeli citizen Emily Hand had been held hostage for seven weeks since she was abducted when the terrorists attacked Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel and slaughtered more than 100 people.

“After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family,” Irish Tánaiste Micheál Martin, the country’s second most senior official, said in a statement.

“The people of Ireland have been touched by Emily’s story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father, Tom.”

Hand was one of 17 hostages — 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals — released by Hamas on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners as part of a four-day cease-fire agreement.

When Hand was captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, her father Tom initially said it was a “blessing” that his daughter may have died — but walked back those remarks after realizing she may be alive.

9-year-old Irish girl thought to be killed by Hamas reunited with dad who initially said her death would’ve been ‘best possibility’

Emily Hand, 9, initially thought to have been killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 — an outcome her dad said at the time was the “best possibility” — was among 17 hostages freed Saturday.

nypost.com

 

[thuumpr]

When Hand was captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, her father Tom initially said it was a “blessing” that his daughter may have died — but walked back those remarks after realizing she may be alive.

Real awkward! Child will hear of dad's love and carry that forward.

 

[Taishobee]

I'm so happy to know she's back home!