Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand was released in a hostage exchange after being held by Hamas for 50 days, the Irish Times reported.
Emily, an Irish-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped during the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, which saw around 240 prisoners returned to Gaza.
She was among at least 30 children believed to still be held in the besieged enclave.
Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand (pictured) was released in a hostage exchange after being held by Hamas for 50 days, The Irish Times reported
Thomas Hand, father of nine-year-old Emily Hand, cries during a press conference by hostage families at the Israeli embassy in London on November 20, 2023
A woman holds leaflets depicting Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand, believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, November 17, 2023
Her father had previously expressed fears that his daughter would not be released as part of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“Until I see Emily’s blue eyes looking into mine, I won’t allow myself to believe anything,” the 63-year-old father from Dublin wrote in The Independent on Wednesday.
“The news that 50 Hamas hostages could soon be released as part of a four-day ceasefire has given me a glimmer of hope,” he wrote, “but also a new sickness in my stomach.” What if Emily isn’t one of those who send their attackers home?
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Hamas hostage Emily Hand is released: The hostage horror is over for the nine-year-old Irish girl who spent 50 days in captivity by a terrorist group