'Emily is broken...but we're overjoyed she's free'

HAMAS HANDS OVER MORE HOSTAGES

-  Mark Reynolds

THE joy in their eyes was plain for all to see.

A nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl held hostage by Hamas is reunited with her loving father yesterday after a harrowing ordeal.

Newly freed Emily Hand was pictured rushing into the arms of her dad Thomas, 63.

Video footage released by the Israeli Defence Forces showed the youngster who spent her ninth birthday in captivity - running to her father and embracing at a location in Israel.

Emily was abducted while she had been attending a sleepover in Kibbutz Be'eri during the Hamas attack on October 7, along with her friend Hila, 13, who has also been released.

Hila's But mother, Raya Rotem, 54, is still being held in Gaza.

Thomas Hand, originally from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, thanked all those who have supported his family through the nightmare.

He said his young daughter was "broken" by her ordeal but he also thanked everyone who "helped and hugged us" while Emily was held.

Mr Hand had originally believed his daughter had been killed, before learning she was still alive.

Yesterday, he said: "Emily has come back to us. We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again.

"We appreciate the unwavering support. We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily's return."

Mr Hand said the family could not "find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days". Emily was snatched in her pyjamas on October 7, during attacks in which some 240 captives were taken to Gaza.