Father's devastating admission about kidnapped daughter's death: 'An absolute blessing'

A father whose eight-year-old daughter was killed during Hamas' attack on Israel has revealed the devastating moment he was told of her death, explaining the relief he felt knowing she was at peace rather than having been captured — a fate "that is worse than death".

Irish-born Thomas Hand spoke through tears when he told a reporter his daughter had been at a sleepover on Friday night when Hamas attacked, something she "didn't do very often". He explained that after hearing of the horrifying treatment of Israeli captives in Gaza, he felt relief at the fact Emily had passed.

Father's relief over her death rather than face atrocious alternative

“They just said, we found Emily. She's dead. I went, 'Yes!' and smiled, because that is the best news of the possibilities I knew," Mr Hand told CNN. "She was either dead or in Gaza. And if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death."

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Militants went 'door to door' executing neighbours

Mr Hand said that by next morning, the kibbutz where Emily was staying was under attack. While he wanted to "run to save her" he knew there was little he could do as Hamas went door to door executing his neighbours on Saturday morning.

"And it was already too late. If I had known … I could have maybe ran, got her, got her friend, got the mother, brought them back to my place," he said.

"But by the time I realised what was happening, it was already too late."

"I'm thinking, the army are going to be here soon. Just hold on a bit longer, and longer, and longer."

Mr Hand who arrived in Be’eri — a kibbutz in southern Israel —30 years ago as a volunteer, planning to stay a few months, but never left, labelled his daughter's death a "blessing", citing the atrocities that she could have endured if she was kidnapped.

"They'd have no food. They'd have no water. She'd be in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people," he said. "And terrified every minute, hour, day, and possible years to come. So death was a blessing. An absolute blessing."

According to CNN, the bodies of more than 100 residents of the kibbutz were recovered, but there are still many more missing.

It's understood Mr Hand's wife, Emily's mother, died a few years back from cancer, Irish Central reported. He remembered Emily as a talented dancer and singer and a fun, bright girl.

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