The nine-year-old girl who was snatched in her pyjamas by Hamas fighters is making a remarkable recovery, her dad has revealed.
Emily Hand was freed four weeks ago into the arms of Irish dad Thomas after almost two months as a hostage in Gaza. But he says despite her ordeal she is now managing to smile again – and has started singing and dancing to her favourite Beyonce songs.
The news is a rare ray of hope from the region, where the conflict still rages. When Emily was freed her voice was no more than a whisper, only audible when Thomas put his ear to her lips.
But he reveals now: “The best sign for me is that she’s starting to sing again. Her voice is getting stronger. She smiles all day. She’s laughing and joking around, and dancing a bit.”
Asked about Christmas plans, Dublin-born Thomas, 63, said he wanted to make it her “best ever”. He said she will get double the usual number of presents as it will also mark Emily’s ninth birthday on November 17, while she was still in captivity.
And he said the Irish-Israeli youngster’s appetite has also returned, giving hope she may be able to enjoy a hearty Christmas dinner. Emily and Thomas had a tearful reunion on November 25, joined by her beloved dog Johnsie. She was one of 13 Israelis – including 13-year-old Hila Rotem – and four Thais released in a deal that saw Israel free 39 Palestinians.
But after seeing her safe, Thomas had to break the news that his ex-wife Narkis, 54, had been murdered in the October 7 attacks. He says she had been like a mum to Emily after her mother Liat died when she was two.
He had initially been told Emily, who had been visiting a friend in a kibbutz three miles from Gaza, was also among the 1,200 killed. He later took part in a high-profile publicity campaign across the US and Europe to focus attention.
After her release, he described Emily as “broken, but in one piece”. But while many hostages require ongoing psychological support, Thomas says his daughter is now doing well and is already on the road to recovery. And he hopes they will one day return to the family kibbutz, which he calls “the closest thing to Heaven”.
Speaking from a town on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, he says she is still getting used to publicity surrounding her release, Thomas recalled a beach walk during which Emily drew the attention of other walkers and one told her: “Emily, you are our hero.” He says his bewildered daughter asked: “How do they know me?”
Yesterday, the conflict showed no sign of slowing, with Israel announcing it had carried out air-strikes on Gaza City to target Hamas fighters. But officials have presented no evidence on claims to have killed thousands of Palestinian militants, including about 2,000 in the past three weeks.
Meanwhile officials said an air-strike on Friday killed 76 members of one extended family. Among the dead were UN Development Program worker Issam al-Mughrabi, his wife, and their five children. Agency head Achim Steiner said: “The loss of Issam and his family has deeply affected us all. The UN and civilians aren’t a target. This war must end.”