The father of a young girl held hostage by Hamas for 50 days says she is making a remarkable recovery – and is back, singing and dancing to Beyoncé.
Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped and presumed dead when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, massacring 1,200 people and capturing another 240.
Her father Tom Hand, 63, had to wait an excruciating two days for news after armed men stormed the kibbutz where she was staying for a sleepover at her friend's house.
When the Irishman was wrongly told that her body had been found, he welcomed the news saying it was better than her being held hostage during the barbaric attack on the Be'eri kibbutz.
But little Emily survived and was one of 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals released late Saturday evening as part of a deal in which Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners in return.
Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli citizen, (pictured) was kidnapped and presumed dead when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, massacring 1,200 people and capturing another 240
Her father Tom Hand, 63, (pictured with Emily after her release) had to wait two days for news after gunmen stormed the kibbutz where she was staying for a sleepover at her friend's house
When the Irishman was wrongly told that her body had been found, he welcomed the news saying it was better than her being held hostage during the barbaric attack on the Be'eri kibbutz.
Mr Hand promised to do 'whatever it takes' to help her recover and now he says little Emily has regained her good spirits.
'She laughs all day. She laughs and jokes and dances a bit,” he told the Mirror.
The first thing Emily asked for after her release was her phone so she could watch a video of her favorite pop star Beyonce.
And now he says he will make this Christmas the 'best ever' as she will receive double the amount of gifts after missing her birthday on November 17.
She is also looking forward to a truly festive celebration as Mr Hand revealed his daughter's appetite had also returned after she lost half a stone while held captive.
In late November, shortly after the couple reunited, he said The sun: 'She was a happy, noisy child, now she whispers. She's being terrorized by terrorists in hell, but as her father, it's my job to make things better, and I will.”
But now Mr. Hand is already looking forward to going home to the family's kibbutz, which he calls “the closest thing to heaven.”
And he says Emily is recognized in Israel – because passers-by call her a “hero.”
Mr Hand promised to do 'whatever it takes' to help her recovery and now he says little Emily is smiling 'all day'
Emily was snatched in her pajamas during Hamas' invasion of Israel on October 7, during which some 240 prisoners were returned to Gaza. She celebrated her ninth birthday while in captivity
Emotional images were shared after her return of the moment Emily was reunited with her father and big sister.
Mr Hand said she ran to him and hugged him in shock as she thought he had also been kidnapped.
His ex-wife Narkis, 52, was killed on October 7 when 400 Hamas terrorists rampaged through the Be'eri kibbutz near Gaza.
Mr. Hand said he, his son and daughter mourned both Emily and Narkis because they believed the little girl was dead.
He further believed that she would be better off dead than kidnapped by Hamas, but added that he was grateful that she was alive.
Since her release, Emily has told her father little about conditions in captivity in Gaza, which she now calls “the box,” but said that “no one hit her.”
Mr Hand revealed that Emily was not – as believed – being held in the horrific Hamas tunnels.
Instead, she was moved from one safe house to another at the height of Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza.
Mr Hand said she ran to him and hugged him in shock, thinking he had also been kidnapped
Mr Hand explained shortly after her release: 'She must have been absolutely terrified – an eight-year-old girl being led by strangers from one blown up grenade of a house to another in the middle of a war zone.'
It comes as the United Nations Security Council approved a watered-down plan to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and called for urgent steps “to create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities.”
Amid global outrage over the rising death toll in Gaza in the 11-week war between Israel and Hamas and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, the US abstained from voting to allow the 15-member council to pass a resolution which was drawn up by the United Arab Emirates.
After high-level negotiations to win over Washington, the resolution no longer dilutes Israel's control over all aid deliveries to 2.3 million people in Gaza.
Lord Cameron said the adoption of a UN resolution calling for the immediate acceleration of aid deliveries to civilians in Gaza was a positive step.
The British Foreign Secretary said: 'It is good news that the UN has met to support a resolution to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
'The UK is doing everything it can to get more aid, as I saw when I visited Al Arish in Egypt this week, near the Gaza border.
“People across Gaza are in urgent need of food, medicine and shelter. We have consistently called for more aid and called on Israel to open more border crossings.
“In addition to the need for expanded humanitarian access, the UN resolution today demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. This is crucial.
Crucially, the resolution also calls for steps towards a lasting ceasefire. This is an outcome that I advocated together with the German Foreign Minister last week and which I strongly believe is the right approach.'