Emily Hand has lost a lot of weight but doing better than expected, her father says
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Emily Hand's father Thomas has said his daughter, 9, has "lost a lot of weight from her face and body but generally is doing better than we expected."
"We would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported us throughout this whole 50 days. You have been great. We can't do it without you."
Tonight, footage also emerged of Emily being reunited with her sister Natali and two dogs.
Emily was among a number of people to be freed by militants on Saturday night in a deal which also saw Palestinians held in Israel released.
She had been abducted while at a sleepover in Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas attack on October 7.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he has been consistent in his condemnation of Hamas and that the vast majority of people understood what he said in his tweet.
Mr Varadkar was responding to Israel foreign minister Eli Cohen who has summoned the Irish ambassador to Israel, Sonya McGuinness to his office tomorrow to be “reprimanded” over his use of the word “lost” relating to Emily Hand.
Mr Varadkar said: “It’s really good news that Emily has been released and she’s now at home with her family.
“The Irish government worked very hard with the Qatari, Egyptian, Israeli authorities, and the Red Cross to press for her release. And I’m really glad that she has been released and that’s the most important thing.
“I’ve always been consistent in my unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and hostage taking. I call for all hostages to be released without any conditions and I have always done so.
"And the Irish Government has worked very hard over the last few weeks with Egypt, with Qatar, with the Red Cross and also with Israel to secure Emily’s release.
"The most important thing today is that she’s at home with her family and that’s all that really matters,” he added.
Following the news that the Irish-Israeli girl had been freed by Hamas, Mr Varakar last night tweeted: “This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.”
Mr Varadkar’s tweet has gained significant attention, particularly for his use of the words “lost” and found”.
In response to Mr Varadkar, the Israeli foreign minister, Eli Cohen said: "It seems you have lost your moral compass and need a reality check!
"Emily Hand was not "lost", she was kidnapped by a terror organization worse than ISIS that murdered her stepmother," he said.
He added: "Emily and more than 30 other Israeli children were taken hostage by Hamas, and you Leo Varadkar are trying to legitimize and normalize terror. Shame on you!"
Mr. Prime Minister,
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) November 26, 2023
It seems you have lost your moral compass and need a reality check!
Emily Hand was not “lost”, she was kidnapped by a terror organization worse than ISIS that murdered her stepmother.
Emily and more than 30 other Israeli children were taken hostage by Hamas,… https://t.co/CD5wIZJN4i
In a follow-up tweet, Eli Cohen said: "Following the outrageous words of the Prime Minister of Ireland about the release of Amelie Hand, who was kidnapped to Gaza by the terrorist organization Hamas, I summoned the Irish ambassador to Israel for a reprimand."
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.
In a statement, the Israeli embassy said: "For the past weeks we have been working tirelessly with Irish counterparts, and we are all happy to see the return of Emily Hand to her loving family.
"It is important to remember Emily was kidnapped by terrorists who knew very well where she was all this time - in their hands.
"So too is still the fate for many Israeli men women and children who were kidnapped and are still held in Gaza. We continue to work and call for their immediate release."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said he is “surprised” by the reaction of Israel’s foreign minister to the tweet.
Mr Martin said Ireland’s ambassador to Israel, Sonya McGuinness will be meeting Israel’s foreign minister Eli Cohen tomorrow.
Mr Martin said Ms McGuinness will make it clear to Mr Cohen Ireland’s position on the conflict and reiterate the Government’s position from the beginning.
He said the Irish Government including the Taoiseach has been “very clear” on its position and has continuously condemned the attack by Hamas and called for all hostages to be released.
“I'm genuinely surprised at this reaction because really the only issue that matters is that Emily Hand is free and back with her family, that's all that matters," Mr Martin said.
He added that the ambassador has been in regular contact with the foreign minister in Israel and will be “very clear” in outlining the Government’s position again and “making sure that there are no doubts about that position and consistent position we’ve had since the outset".
Mr Martin defended Mr Varadkar saying his tweet was a “reflection of, I think, the happiness that Emily has been released. I don't think more should be read into it.”
On Emily Hand’s release, the Tánaiste said his concern all along was the trauma the nine-year-old was going through.
He said: “I couldn't get it out of my head, an eight year old in captivity with no next of kin. We had no proof of life for any of the hostages, including Emily Hand.
“Just for me, it's just the relief as a human being, as a parent, that this is one child that has a life to lead now…”
He added: "I think there's huge relief across the country because her father Tom and sister Natalie with others when they came to Ireland touched the hearts of the Irish people in terms of the anguish of a father who was extremely traumatised at the abduction of Emily.
“I'm genuinely surprised at this reaction because really the only issue that matters is that Emily Hand is free and back with her family, that's all that matters..as I would have communicated last evening I think now for the Hand family it’s a step by step recovery and healing and hopefully Emily can come through this trauma.”
Speaking to RTÉ, he said he hopes the current pause in fighting can continue and hopes the current pause could become a permanent ceasefire.
He said he is travelling to meet EU leader at the Mediterranean Union tonight and the focus will be on how to build a pathway to peace.
Government and Opposition TDs have also defended Mr Varadkar and accused Israel of “deflection".
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty described Israel's reaction to the Taoiseach's comment on Emily Hand's release as "disgraceful".
"This is absolute deflection from Israel who are preparing, I am sure, to begin their bombardment of Gaza again after this ceasefire. What we need now is a focus to make sure Israel doesn't do that, that this ceasefire is a lasting ceasefire and that there is space and opportunity for dialogue and a peace process to emerge out of what we have the last couple of days," he told RTÉ’s .
Government junior minister Jack Chambers said: "This has been completely misrepresented."
Mr Chambers said the Taoiseach's statement is very clear in terms of people being taken from their home and held captive.
Last night, nine-year-old Emily Hand returned in the second group of hostages released by the Islamist movement under a Qatari-brokered deal with Israel. She appeared in good health in a photograph released with fellow hostage Hila Rotem, whose mother remains in Gaza.
"We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days," her family said in a statement.
"We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return."