Girl ‘killed’ by Hamas still alive and held hostage in Gaza: New pain for family of Emily Hand, 8, as Israel says she was kidnapped and NOT killed by terror group – with youngster’s sister now swearing: ‘ We’ll do everything we can to take you home’
- Irish-Israeli Emily Hand, 8, was allegedly murdered in Kibbutz Be’eri
- Her father, Thomas Hand, said he welcomed the news of her apparent death
- But Israeli officials have told her family she is likely a Hamas hostage
An eight-year-old girl believed to have been massacred by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri is now alive and among the hostages in Gaza.
Emily Hand, a young Irish-Israeli girl, is believed to have been one of at least 130 people killed in the deadly massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri, where she spent the night of October 6-7 during a sleepover with her friend. house.
Her family has been grieving for the past month, but today Israeli authorities told them she is a hostage of Hamas and is likely somewhere in Gaza.
Her older sister, Natalie Hand, told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12: “We were told she had been murdered. We were in mourning.
“On October 31, they told us there was a good chance she had been kidnapped.”
Emily Hand, a young Irish-Israeli girl, is believed to have been among at least 130 people killed in the deadly Kibbutz Be’eri massacre
It comes after her father, Irish-born Thomas Hand, said he was happy to hear she was dead because he was terrified of the way she might have been treated by Hamas terrorists.
When Natalie was asked if she had anything to say to Emily, she said, by chance that she was listening, “I want to tell you that we are doing everything we can to get you home.” We know you’re being held hostage. We love and miss you so much.”
Natalie added that Israeli officials told her that Emily’s friend and her mother, whose home she was staying in, were also likely Hamas hostages.
Mr Hand, who is not Jewish and was born in the coastal town of Dún Laoghaire in the Republic of Ireland, said in an interview with CNN just days after Hamas’ covert attack on Israel: ‘(Israeli authorities) said: ‘We have Found Emily She’s dead,’ and I just said, ‘Yes!’ I said yes, and I smiled because that’s the best news about the possibilities I knew.’
‘She was either dead or in Gaza. And if you know anything about what they are doing to people in Gaza, it is worse than death,” he said.
“They wouldn’t have any food. They would have no water. She would be in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people. And terrified every minute, every hour, every day and possibly for years to come. So death was a blessing. An absolute blessing.’