Fortunately, a brave girl who was taken hostage by Hamas was returned to her father’s arms, but she remained traumatized and almost mute until now.
Nine-year-old Emily Hand was kidnapped in her pajamas during a sleepover at her friend’s house during the terrorist group’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year and held hostage for 50 days.
Images of Emily running into her father’s arms before sharing an emotional hug warmed the hearts of everyone who saw them.
Her father said at the time that she was “shattered but in one piece” after previously saying he believed she would be better off dead than kidnapped by Hamas.
It has been a long road to recovery, as upon her return Emily was painfully thin, with dirty, matted hair and only speaking in a whisper because her bully captors had told the schoolgirl they would stab her if she made too much noise.
But her father Thomas praised her as a “fighter” and revealed she is now as “loud and boisterous as ever” and is “smiling again.” She promised to never complain about how loud she is being.
Emily Hand turned 9th birthday while in captivity after being taken from a sleepover
Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand was reunited with her devoted father, who promised to celebrate her final birthday with the “biggest party ever.”
Thomas Hand, father of Hamas hostage Emily Hand, said his nine-year-old daughter had “lost a lot of weight” after she was finally reunited with her family.
he said the sun Emily is “smiling again” and is back at school with some of her old friends, starting to “enjoy life.”
He said: ‘Emily is still afraid of loud noises and couldn’t sleep alone for a long time after she returned.
“She still has nightmares, but counseling has helped her and things are much better now.
“He spent his last birthday in hell, so I’ll make sure he has a party to remember this year when he turns 10 on October 17.”
Before the anniversary of the attack, he stated that “our thoughts are always with the hostages.”
Upon his return, Hand said he had been too scared to hug her tightly, but promised to throw her the “biggest birthday party ever.” He served nine years while he was a hostage.
Following her release, her family added in a statement: ‘Emily has returned to us. We can’t find words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days.
Emily is taken to safety by armed Hamas militants after 50 days in captivity.
Emily was kidnapped in her pajamas during Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7, in which some 240 captives were returned to Gaza. He served nine years while in captivity.
‘We are delighted to hug Emily again, but at the same time we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have not yet returned.
We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them home.
‘We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us over the last 50 days until Emily’s return.
“We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for everyone’s safe return.”
Emily’s capture made headlines around the world after her emotional father initially said he hoped she had died in the October 7 invasion, rather than being in the hands of Hamas.
At a news conference at the time, Hand said he believed she faced “sheer terror and panic every hour of every day.”
“She must be saying every day, ‘Where is my dad? Where is my dad? Why doesn’t he come save me?’
Emily is seen being welcomed by her family after 50 days as a Hamas hostage.
The images also show the girl being hugged and comforted by her half-sister Natali.
He added: “I don’t know what condition she will be in, but she will be broken, very broken, mentally and physically, and we will have to fix that.”
The little girl’s father explained that his dog will be an important part of her recovery and even told the military that Johnsie was a requirement.
She said: “The dog is usually so loving and so calm… he’s the calming influence Emily will need over the next few weeks.”
“I absolutely insisted that the dog must come with me and, to my surprise, the Israeli army agreed,” he added.
Hand has been Emily’s only parent after her mother died of cancer when she was just two years old.
Dubliner Thomas traveled to Israel three decades ago to volunteer at a kibbutz near the Gaza border.
She faced an excruciating wait for news about her daughter after Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz where she was staying overnight at her friend’s house on October 7.
The footage shows Mr Hand speaking of his hope that Emily, who spent her ninth birthday inside Gaza’s terrorist tunnels, will recover physically and mentally from the torment of being held captive for 50 days.
Emily is shown meeting her father, while Hila Rotem (second from left), whose mother is still being held hostage, meets with a family member.
When she was incorrectly told that her body had been found, she welcomed the news because she said it was better than taking her hostage during the barbaric attack on Kibbutz Be’eri.
Her older sister, Natalie, told Israeli media: “They told us she had been killed. We were mourning.
‘On October 31 they told us that it was very likely that she had been kidnapped.’
When Natalie was asked if she had anything she wanted to say to Emily, in case she might be listening, she said, “I want to tell you that we’re doing everything we can to get you home.” We know he’s being held hostage.
“We love you very much and we miss you.”
Emily was among at least 30 children believed to still be held in Gaza.
