Irish citizen Emily Hand is known to be among the many first group of hostages held in Gaza which can be set to be freed by Hamas.
The nine-year-old, whose birthday was final week, was taken as a part of the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7. It was initially believed that she had died within the assault however her household was later knowledgeable she was a hostage.
Emily’s father Tom is from Dublin and has been in Eire lately together with her sister Natali in an effort to get Emily launched from Hamas custody. Relations held a celebration for Emily in St Stephen’s Inexperienced over the weekend.
Learn extra: Household of hostage Emily Hand maintain vigil on her birthday as they hope for protected return
Learn extra: Dublin household that fled Gaza for Eire ‘torn’ to go away behind loves ones in warzone
Emily, in addition to 49 others on the record, may very well be launched again to Israel as early at Thursday November 23. As a part of the deal struck between Israel and Hamas a ceasefire will happen for a minimum of 4 days with a minimum of 10 hostages launched every day in trade for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
It was at Kibbutz Be’eri close to Gaza in Israel that Hamas attacked whereas Emily had gone for a sleepover in a pal’s home. Stories revealed how Tom was “pinned down underneath heavy gunfire unable to achieve his daughter” for 12 hours.
It was not till two days after the assault on October 7 that he was instructed that Emily’s physique had been discovered. Tom revealed: “They simply mentioned, ‘We’ve discovered Emily, she’s lifeless’. She was both lifeless or in Gaza, and if you recognize something about what they do to folks in Gaza, that’s worse than dying. So dying was a blessing.”
Tom was instructed weeks later that Emily was considered alive in Gaza. Emily’s sister Natali mentioned on Israeli TV: “We’re doing every part to get you house. We all know you’re being held hostage. We love you a lot and miss you.”
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