Israel and Hamas hostage release: Family of Emily Hand holding out hope
A 9-year-old Irish-Israeli girl was not among the first group of hostages freed by Hamas as the family continues to wait – and hope grows over the ceasefire.
The father of a 9-year-old girl being held hostage by Hamas militants continues to wait for release, holding out hope that he will see her again.
First the family thought she was likely dead, but it's believed Irish girl Emily Hand, who had her birthday last week, is believed to be somewhere in Gaza among the hostages taken by Hamas militants who swarmed her kibbutz on October 7.
Her plight – and that of the other hostages – has captured the attention of the Irish public, and the world. But despite Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire which commenced on Friday afternoon (AEST) and a deal to release hostages, little Emily was not among the first group released by the militant organisation.
On Friday, the Hand family became aware their little girl was not among those set to be released when Hamas provided Israel with a list of the first group of hostages to be freed, the Irish Times reported. That was despite initial reports the previous day that she would be among the first to be released.
The family expressed happiness to see other captives handed over and say they continue to wait for more information.
"We remain optimistic and hope to see Emily with us in the coming day," they said in a statement.
First hostage and prisoner swap takes place
The ceasefire is set to last for four days, during which a total of 50 Israeli hostages are expected to be released, focusing on children, mothers and elderly women. In return Israel will free for some 150 Palestinian prisoners.
This morning – as the guns fell silent across the Gaza strip for the first time in seven weeks – Hamas released 24 hostages including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers.
The hostages were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, accompanied by eight staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a four-car convoy, the ICRC said.
Qatar, which acted as mediator for the truce deal, said 13 Israelis had been released, some with dual citizenship, plus 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino. Meanwhile thirty-nine Palestinian women and teenage detainees were released from Israeli jails.
"We have just completed the return of the first batch of our hostages. Children, their mothers and other women. Each and every one of them is a world in itself," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
"But I stress to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: we are committed to returning all our hostages."
The names of the Israeli hostages were released after they were freed. They included four children accompanied by four family members as well as five other elderly women.
Corinne Moshe, daughter-in-law of 72-year-old Adina Moshe, said her husband and his siblings were waiting at a hospital to be reunited with their mother.
"I miss her very, very much, I want her to be back already. I want to have dinner with her and the entire family again," she said.
"Grandmother is a strong woman. She raised almost all the children of Kibbutz Nir Oz."
The Israeli military said the released hostages underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory before being taken to Israeli hospitals to be reunited with their families.
Israel says the truce could be extended if more hostages are released at a rate of 10 per day. However both sides say the war will resume on full throttle as soon as the truce is over.
with Reuters
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
