“I am happy to hold my daughter again, but I remember all the hostages who have not yet returned. “We will do our best to bring the other hostages home.”
Emily Hand, a 9-year-old Israeli girl who was thought to have died in a surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas on the 7th of last month and was later confirmed to have been taken hostage, was miraculously returned to her family on the 25th of this month, 49 days after her abduction. Her father, Thomas Hand, 63, who had even prepared her daughter’s funeral, was moved to tears by her daughter’s return. He emphasized that he would also help ensure the safe return of the remaining hostages.
Emily was kidnapped while sleeping at a friend’s house in Kibbutz Vieri (collective farm) in southern Israel, adjacent to the Gaza Strip, on the day Hamas attacked Israel.
Emily was initially reported to have been killed shortly after the Hamas raid and was listed as dead. Her father Thomas, in an interview with CNN, etc., wailed, saying, “Death may be a blessing,” and touched the hearts of people around the world. The idea was that it would be better for her to close her eyes without pain than to suffer torture and abuse from Hamas. He even arranged her funeral to bury Emily next to her wife, who passed away from cancer a few years ago.
A major reversal occurred on the 31st of the same month. The Israeli military raised the possibility of Emily’s survival, saying, ‘No traces of Emily’s body or blood were found at the scene of her accident.’ Ms. Thomas repeatedly prayed earnestly for her daughter’s safe return, and eventually Emily returned to Israel through the Rafah border in Egypt on the 25th of this month following an agreement between the Israeli military and Hamas on the release of personnel.
Emily, who celebrated her birthday 8 days ago on the 17th, was also able to celebrate her 9th birthday with her father. “I can’t find words to express this feeling,” Mr Thomas said in a BBC interview. “I am grateful to everyone who rescued her daughter and comforted our family.”
According to the New York Times (NYT), there were 17 Israeli hostages released on this day, including Emily, and 4 Thai hostages. All were women and children. These are the second people Hamas has released since it began releasing hostages under the agreement. But some, like 13-year-old Hila Rotem, who was kidnapped with her mother, were released alone, leaving behind her family. As a result, most of the families of the released hostages, like Mr. Thomas, have expressed their intention to “not let go of tension until all the kidnapped people return.”
There is a very high possibility that Israel and Hamas will resume fighting after the hostages are released. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzy Halevi announced on the 25th, “We will resume attacks on the Gaza Strip as soon as the temporary ceasefire with Hamas ends.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.