The 8-year-old Irish-Israeli lady who was reportedly declared lifeless in the course of the Hamas assault on October 7, is now believed to be alive and held hostage in Gaza. Solely a month in the past, Emily Hand’s father expressed his “reduction” over her dying, saying that it was a “blessing” that she was killed as an alternative of being kidnapped. In an emotional interview, Thomas Hand opened up on her obvious dying, saying, “She was both lifeless or in Gaza, and if you realize something about what they do to individuals in Gaza, that’s worse than dying… so dying was a blessing.”
Nevertheless, Emily’s household obtained the information that their daughter was nonetheless alive and amongst these kidnapped on October 31, as per the Instances of Israel. Emily’s half-sister Natalie, 26, stated, “We had been advised that she had been murdered. We had been in mourning. On October 31, they advised us that it was extremely doubtless that she had been kidnapped.”
The Irish Embassy in Israel additionally confirmed that Emily was not murdered, as an alternative, she had been kidnapped. Natalie stated in a direct message to her sister Emily, “I wish to inform you that we’re doing all the pieces to get you house. We all know you’re being held hostage. We love you a lot and miss you.”
On Sunday, Natalie’s boyfriend Natty Virado confirmed that Israeli intelligence believes that there’s a “excessive likelihood” that Emily is being held in Gaza alongside together with her good friend and the good friend’s mom. Virado, 28, stated, “This story simply retains piling up. This nightmare is coming to life. Thomas is holding up, we’re all holding up. Everybody within the household is coping with their very own grief and doing their greatest,” as per the Irish Instances.