Thomas Hand says daughter Emily on track to full recovery after release from Hamas captivity in November

Living in temporary accommodation in the desert above the Dead Sea, nine-year-old Emily Hand and her father Thomas slowly recover from an ordeal that has upended their lives as the Gaza war rages.

Emily, a dual Irish-Israeli citizen, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and spent some 50 harrowing days in captivity in Gaza until her release on November 26.

Since her reunification with her father, Dublin-born Thomas Hand, they have been moving from one place of temporary accommodation to another, carrying only a few belongings and the family dog.

Hand says his native Ireland had been instrumental in the release of his daughter, but he voices strong criticism of the Irish government’s recognition of a Palestinian state, saying that it rewards Hamas for their actions.

Regarding the end of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which was sparked by the October 7 massacre, Hand says “All they (Hamas) have to do is hand over the hostages and the war is over.”

He tries to provide a sense of normalcy for Emily and says that, despite one or two triggers, she is on track for a full recovery.