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Emily, a dual Irish-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped by Hamas
militants on Oct. 7 last year during a rampage of killing and
destruction on her Kibbutz Be'eri. She spent 50 harrowing days
in captivity in Gaza until her release in November.
Since her reunification with her father, Dublin-born Thomas
Hand, they have been moving from one place of temporary
accommodation to another, carrying only a few belongings and the
family dog.
Hand said his native Ireland had been instrumental in the
release of his daughter. But he voiced strong criticism of the
Irish government's recognition of a Palestinian state.
He feels the step rewards Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group
which kidnapped his daughter after the attack on Israel in which
1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken to Gaza as
hostages.
Israel responded with an offensive that has killed more than
36,000 people and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.
Ireland said its stance is rooted in seeking a peaceful
resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"We're praying for it to happen, and for all of this to end. All
they (Hamas) have to do is hand over the hostages and the war is
over," said Hand.
He tries to provide a sense of normalcy for Emily, and says
that, despite one or two triggers, she is on track for a full
recovery.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced from the
southern communities near the border with Gaza amid the ongoing
war, and also from northern Israel due to ongoing cross-border
hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
(Editing by Michael Georgy and Angus MacSwan)
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