Delighted for Emily Hand

[Cashncarry68]

..and her family. Her story is one that resonated with many people. If that were my little girl, I would never let her out of my sight. I expect her parents realise what a blessing really does now look like.

She definitely deserves to be spoilt this birthday! Hope all the other hostages are returned safely

Pure cruelty & psychological warfare against Israel. Part of the deal was that they would not split families but they seem to have done that at each release.

And little four year old Avigail, God what that poor child has been through. Seeing both her parents killed then taken away by their murderers. Who was looking after her while she was held I wonder?

Referencing the gospels would of course not be helpful to those from the Jewish faith.

Not as many people are likely to read the longer statement. Describing Emily as 'lost' and 'found' was still poorly worded.

Yes but wonderful news for her father.

I see he released the longer version after everyone complained...
@GrazingSheep I apologised straight away. Chill out.

She wasn't her step mother who was murdered. She was his ex wife before Emily's mother. But she helped raise her after her mother died. I think that's where she was having a sleepover when she was killed and they took Emily hostage.

She looks traumatised and shellshocked, I can’t imagine how she must feel

the media coverage has an “overjoyed” theme. But I think it’s so naive, or such an incomplete slant.

I'm very happy to see these hostages released, especially the children. It is very touching to see them reunited with their loved ones. I can only hope that they're given adequate support to help them deal with the impact of the trauma.

Heartbroken for the little girl who turned 4 in captivity after having watched both of her parents being murdered. She has had 50 days of living with that horror, with no psychological support and in the most terrifying of circumstances. I am sure that her fellow hostages must have done their best to care for her but I don't even know how you can begin to rebuild from that kind of experience. I fear it will be a long road ahead.

Emilu's story is heartbreaking. Her mum died when she was a toddler, she was being raised in Israel by her dad's ex wife as he'd moved back to Ireland. And then that second mother figure was murdered in front of her, she's spent terrifying weeks as a terrorists' hostage, and she will presumably now move to Ireland, which is not her home, to live with a father that she hasn't lived with for ?? years.

Obviously it's fantastic that she's been released. But it's just trauma on top of trauma for that poor little girl.

I too am quite uncomfortable at the media's tone in the coverage of these children getting released, and all the crowd and cameras in their faces. Little consideration of mention of the trauma of what they've been through, and that they all look like they are in a traumatised state; it's not a "they're free, their torture is over". I hope they are left in peace and given all the mefical and psychological support they need to try to recover.

I'm not sure where you are getting your information from?

Tom Hand has not lived in Ireland for many years; he was living in the same kibbutz from where she was kidnapped, raising Emily there.

And then that second mother figure was murdered in front of her,

I also just checked this.

In an interview Thomas Hand gave to the Irish Times on 18 October (when it was still believed Emily was dead, he speaks about calling his ex wife to ask her to call the family with whom Emily was having a sleepover.

‘Can you imagine the sheer horror for an eight-year-old?’: Dún Laoghaire man tells of grief at daughter’s death in Israel

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/10/18/can-you-imagine-the-sheer-horror-for-an-eight-year-old-tom-hand-tells-of-grief-at-daughter-emilys-death/

You really should be more careful with the facts.

she will presumably now move to Ireland, which is not her home,

I doubt this since her father hasn't lived here for many years, and his other children are living in Israel too.

It's possible but I can't imagine you have any knowledge of it.

to live with a father that she hasn't lived with for ?? years.

She lived with him until 07 October. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Emily’s story resonated with me as I have a DD of a similar age and couldn’t stop imagining how she would be feeling in the same situation. To be held alone in those circumstances for over 50 days must have traumatised her deeply, and you can see that in the photos - her little face looks so drawn. I do hope the family are able to access psychological support and therapy for her.

Sorry, you're right - I mistakenly believed he was no longer living in Israel because he's been giving interviews from London and he was in the process of applying for an Irish passport for Emily. His ex wife (and mother of Emily's siblings) was definitely murdered on Oct 7 though, any Google of Narkis Hand will confirm that.

I wonder if Tom Hand regrets that strange interview he gave just after Emily was taken, where he said he was so happy to hear she was dead, because what could happen to hostages was horrendous. I got the reasoning, but his manner was very odd.

is there a clip anywhere?

You can hear the clip on The Newsagents podcast from that day

I didn't think his manner was odd at all. Compared to what? His little girl had been kidnapped by a group who had just been torturing and raping women and girls. What is the correct way to react? I think he will regret it now though, just another reason to feel incredibly sorry for him.

Absolutely. I'd give wide latitude to anyone in those circumstances

No one knows how they would have reacted in that moment. Where you know generally what happens to hostages/ people who fall in hamas' hands.
Bombarded by media.
For him that may have been more palatable than letting his mind run riot.
I think we need to cut him some slack.

Very much agree.

I remember the clip of a man saying that, didn't realise it was Emily's father.