9-Year-Old Emily Hand Rescued from Gaza After Being Held Hostage by Hamas
Emily Hand, a 9-year-old girl from Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and taken to Gaza where she was held captive alongside her friend Hila Rotem-Shoshani and Hila’s mother Raaya. Emily and Hila were released last Saturday but Raaya remains in captivity.
Emily’s father, Thomas Hand, stated that she was forced to move from house to house as Israeli forces attacked Gaza, causing her to suffer through terrifying experiences as a hostage. Emily’s ordeal began when terrorists stormed her hometown, capturing approximately 130 residents, killing some, and holding others hostage.
Thomas Hand was initially informed that Emily had died, only to be told nearly a month later by the Israeli army that it was “highly probable” that she was alive and being held by Hamas. This news resulted in an agonizing two months of uncertainty as a father’s worst fear was replaced by the terrifying unknown of his daughter’s condition.
Fortunately, after eight long weeks, the emotional moment of reunification came when Thomas was notified that Emily was on the list of hostages to be released under a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. Video footage of their heartfelt reunion has since gone viral, capturing the happiness and relief of a father as he embraced his daughter for the first time in weeks.
It was apparent that Emily had endured immense hardship during her time as a hostage. Thomas observed that she had lost weight and appeared paler than he had ever seen her before. Furthermore, she had been conditioned to remain silent, speaking only in whispers, and had returned with a head full of lice, all signs of the trauma she had experienced.
As Thomas focuses on his daughter’s recovery and helps her process the trauma of her captivity, he also hopes for the safe return of Raaya and all the other hostages. He calls upon the world to continue its support and help bring them home, emphasizing the need for justice and solidarity during this challenging time.