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The parent of a 9-year-old child of Irish and Israeli descent who was held captive during the Hamas attack on Israel expressed skepticism about a potential hostage release agreement, stating that they will only believe it when they witness it.
At first, Thomas Hand believed that his daughter Emily, who was spending the night at a friend’s house, had died on October 7. However, he later found out that she had actually been abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri and taken to Gaza.
During a press conference at the Israeli embassy in London on Monday morning, Mr Hand expressed that he was currently enduring a “nightmare” and his ultimate goal was to be reunited with Emily, which he described as his “purpose for living.”
Mr. Hand tearfully expressed his hope to be reunited with his daughter Emily.
I am uncertain of the state she will be in, but her mental and physical well-being will likely be severely damaged and we will need to work towards repairing it.
“It will require a significant amount of time to repair that.”
“We must complete this task, and we are committed to doing so regardless of the time it may require.”
“My main focus is the driving force behind my daily motivation and purpose for waking up every morning.”
He expressed his horror at the idea of a nine-year-old girl being trapped in dark tunnels without ever seeing daylight.
“She must be saying every day: ‘Where’s my daddy, why didn’t he come to save me?’”
Mr. Hand, sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Bring them home now,” condemned the taking of hostages as an act of “sheer terrorism and unadulterated wickedness.”
Mr. Hand stated that he will only believe media reports about a potential hostage release deal when he actually sees it, despite rumors suggesting that a deal is close.
According to Mr Hand, who hails from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, obtaining evidence of the hostages’ survival is of utmost importance as it will ensure their continued safety.
He stated that Hamas is using psychological warfare tactics to prevent the Red Cross from obtaining evidence of life. He also expressed that this prolongs their suffering and anguish.
According to Mr. Hand, Emily was a “lively and innocent young girl” who enjoyed playing both the piano and guitar. He also noted that music was her greatest passion.
According to the Israeli embassy, there are currently 240 individuals being held hostage in Gaza, with approximately 30 of them being children.
At the press conference, Iris Haim, who was also a speaker, shared that her son Yotam was abducted from Kfar Aza on October 7 while getting ready to perform at a festival in Tel Aviv.
Ms. Haim, who is originally from Haifa, stated that her 28-year-old son was caught in a chaotic situation of gun violence and firing during the recent Hamas attack on Israel.
She expressed her concern for Yotam, the drummer of the heavy metal band Persephore, who has a medical condition and needs to take medication on a monthly basis.
As a mother, it is difficult for me to express the worry and concern I am feeling. My son is currently not with me, and is not on the trip to London as planned. He has been captured in an unknown location.
Ms Haim expressed her belief that hostages would be released gradually and acknowledged that her son would probably not be among the first group to be freed. However, she remains optimistic that he will eventually return.
The source of this information is the Independent, a UK-based news publication.
