Heartwarming moment Emily Hand is reunited with her big sister and two dogs – after her father vowed to throw the ‘biggest party ever’ to mark the ninth birthday the Irish girl spent as a Hamas hostage

• Emily was snatched in her pyjamas during Hamas’ invasion of Israel  
• READ MORE: Meet the 13 people whose 50-day captivity hell is finally over

This is the heartwarming moment nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand was reunited with her big sister and two pet dogs after 50 days as a hostage of Hamas.

The youngster, who was initially feared to have been murdered by Hamas gunmen during their invasion of Israel, was filmed seeing her sister or the first time since she was snatched by terrorists on October 7.

Emily can be seen walking towards her older sister, Natali Hand, before the siblings embrace each other, finally being reunited following the traumatic ordeal. 

The family’s two dogs are also unable to contain their excitement, as they approach the two sisters as they share a long-awaited hug. Natali then gives her little sister a heartfelt kiss on the cheek before the video ends. 

On Saturday night, Emily joined 20 other hostages who were released by Hamas during a four-day pause in the conflict. Her release came after a delay of several hours when Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet the terms of the agreement.

Emily can be seen walking towards her older sister, Natali Hand, before the siblings embrace each other, finally being reunited following the traumatic ordeal 

The family’s two dogs are also unable to contain their excitement, as they approach the two sisters as they share a long-awaited hug

Emily is led to safety by gun-toting Hamas militants after 50 days in captivity

Emily’s capture made headlines around the world after her emotional father, Thomas Hand, 63, initially said he hoped she had died in the October 7 invasion, rather than being in the hands of Hamas. 

Since it was revealed she was in fact alive, Mr Hand has been campaigning tirelessly for her freedom. 

READ MORE: Faces of freedom: From the Irish girl who celebrated her ninth birthday in Hamas terror tunnels (but was feared dead by her family) to the siblings taken hostage as their mother was murdered – meet the 13 people whose 50-day captivity hell is finally over

Mr Hand later revealed she was ‘broken’ after her ordeal, but still in one piece. He also said he had been too scared to hug her tightly – but vowed to throw her the ‘biggest birthday party ever’. 

Speaking to the Mirror ahead of his daughter’s long-awaited release, a relieved Mr Hand said: ‘We have been waiting for far too long for this moment. Every day has been a long and painful living nightmare.… my Emily is coming home at last, broken but in one piece.’ 

After her release, her family added in a statement: ‘Emily has come back to us. We can’t find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days.

‘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.

‘We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home.

‘We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily’s return.

‘We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for the safe return of all.’

Mr Hand earlier told The Mirror of his nerve-shredding wait to hug Emily again and said he would tell her: ‘I love you, I love you, I love you.’

He said: ‘Emily is so wonderfully sweet and innocent – and I hope and pray that this awful experience will not have taken that away from her.

‘I expect she’ll be very angry with me to start with because you’ve been thinking, ‘Where is Daddy? Why has Daddy not come to save me?’

‘But the great thing is she cannot blame the dog at all – and I’m absolutely sure the dog will get the cuddle first before me.

‘She really is a special girl who loves everything in this world – even the big snails that crawl around our kibbutz. Emily used to put them on her arms and hands and stroke them gently.

‘I’m sure we’ll be able eventually to cure all the physical problems that may be inflicted on her… but the things in the mind are gonna take much more time and effort.’

Emily was on a sleepover at a friend’s house on the night of the October 7 attack and was taken as a hostage while still in her pyjamas along with around 240 others. 

That night she phoned her older sister, Natali, who was in Australia at the time, telling her that the house was one fire. 

Natali said: ‘She was asking me why I didn’t take her to Australia. Our bodies hurt from crying, we have no tears left.’

Nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand has been reunited with her devoted father, who has vowed to mark her latest birthday with the ‘biggest party ever 

Emily was snatched in her pyjamas during Hamas’ invasion of Israel on October 7, in which some 240 captives were taken back into Gaza. She had her ninth birthday while in captivity

Emily was one of 13 Israeli citizens to be freed tonight from terror group Hamas and had her ninth birthday while in captivity

Palestinians celebrate as 39 civilians were released from the Israeli Ofer prison

Onlookers cheers as 39 Palestinians are reunited with loved ones after stepping off a Red Cross bus

Two relatives embrace after 39 Palestinians are released as part of a prisoner swap

Supporters waved flags as they celebrated the return of 39 Palestinians in a prisoner swap

Relatives eagerly anticipated the arrival of the civilians in a Red Cross vehicle

Israeli authorities released 39 Palestinians, including 6 females, 33 minors as part of second batch of prisoner swap

Earlier, at a press conference in London, Mr Hand said he believed she was facing ‘sheer terror and panic every hour of every day.’

‘She must be saying every day: ”Where’s my daddy? Where’s my daddy, why isn’t be coming to save me?”’

He added: ‘I don’t know what condition she’s gonna be in, but she’s gonna be broken, very broken, mentally and physically, and we’ll have to fix that.’

The little girl’s father explained her dog is going to be an important part of her recovery and even told the military that Johnsie was a requirement.

He said:  ‘The dog is so loving and so calm usually… he’s just the calming influence Emily will need for the next few weeks.’

‘I absolutely insisted that the dog must come with me and, to my surprise, the Israeli army has agreed,’ he added.

Thomas has been Emily’s sole parent after her mother died from cancer when she was just two years old. 

Dubliner Thomas travelled to Israel three decades ago to volunteer on a kibbutz near the Gaza border. 

He faced an unbearable wait for news about his daughter after Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz where she was staying for a sleepover at her friend’s home on October 7.

When he was incorrectly told her body had been found, he welcomed the news because he said it was better than her being taken hostage during the barbaric attack on the Be’eri Kibbutz.

At the time he 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.

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

Around three weeks later Emily’s family was told she might not be dead. 

Her older sister, Natalie, told Israeli media: ‘We were told that she had been murdered. We were in mourning.

‘On October 31, they told us that it was highly likely that she had been abducted.’

When Natalie was asked whether she had anything she wanted to say to Emily, on the off-chance she could be listening, she said: ‘I want to tell you that we are doing everything to get you home. We know you are being held hostage.

‘We love you so much and miss you.’

An International Red Cross vehicle carrying hostages released by Hamas driving towards the Rafah Crossing this evening

A Red Cross vehicle, carrying hostages abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, arrives at the Rafah border, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel

Emily was among at least 30 children believed to be still held in Gaza. 

Irish Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: ‘I am delighted that Emily Hind – a bright and beautiful young girl – has been released and will be reunited with her family.

‘After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family. 

‘The people of Ireland have been touched by Emily’s story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father, Tom.

‘I had the opportunity to meet Tom before travelling to the region, and I was struck by the strength and resilience with which he advocated for his daughter’s release. 

‘This is a message that I and my colleagues in government sought to amplify as we engaged internationally, in a bid to secure Emily’s safe return. 

‘I want to acknowledge the role played by the US, Qatar, Egypt and others that have been involved in securing the release of the hostages.

‘I am conscious today that many more hostages remain in the hands of Hamas. I reiterate my call that all hostages in Gaza should be released immediately and unconditionally.’ 

Noga and Shiri Weiss pictured as they were released from the Hamas terrorist group

Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam, 12, were also pictured safely returning to their home territory

Hamas finally freed 13 Israeli hostages and seven of other nationalities on Saturday after initially refusing to let them go

On Saturday night hostages were handed to the Red Cross in exchange for 39 Palestinians. Among the hostages released from both sides were 41 children and 11 women. 

On Saturday, Qatari and Egyptian mediators said Hamas agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven ‘foreigners’ on Saturday in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. 

Who are the hostages that have been released? 

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13 

Emily Hand, 9 

Maya Regev, 21

Noam Or, 17

Alma Or, 13

Noga Weiss, 53

Shiri Weiss, 18

Sharon Avigdori, 52

Noam Avigdori, 12

Shoshan Haran, 67

Adi Shoham, 38

Yahel Shoham, 3

Naveh Shoham, 8

The hostages – six women and seven children – were handed over to the Red Cross and crossed over at the Rafah Crossing on the border between Gaza and Egypt at around 9.30pm. By 10.05pm, the hostages were back on Israeli soil. 

Relatives of the hostages set free have celebrated their release.

Adi Shoham’s cousin Inbal Tzach, told The Guardian:’Like everyone else we watched our loved ones on their way home. The struggle has not ended. This is the saddest joy and the happiest sadness, but our family is home. 

‘This is an emotional evening for the families who received their loved ones tonight. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home.’

Zohar Avigdori, who is the uncle of Noam Avigdori and sister-in-law of Sharon Avigdori, who were also released on Saturday, told the paper: ‘We are very excited, our legs are shaking and we are impatiently waiting to hug our loved ones, Noam and Sharon.’

The terror group claimed earlier on Saturday that Israel had not complied with the deal’s terms and not delivered enough aid to Gaza.

This evening, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said: ‘After a delay, obstacles to release of prisoners were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, and 39 Palestinian civilians will be released tonight, while 13 Israeli hostages will leave Gaza in addition to seven foreigners.’

In a second post, Ansari said the Israelis to be released from Gaza consisted of eight children and five women. 

‘Those to be released from Israeli prisons comprised 33 children and six women’, the spokesman said.

A number of Palestinians were also reportedly injured as a result of gunfire from Israeli forces as they waited for the release of their relatives as part of the exchange agreement near Ofer Prison in Ramallah, West Bank, this evening.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the roughly 240 hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. 

Those freed in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino. 

People participate in a show of solidarity with hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, near the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv

A total of 50 hostages currently held by Hamas are to be released during a four-day truce with Israel, the first such pause in fighting since October 7

Relatives of the Israeli prisoners that have been captive in Gaza Strip by Hamas stage a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel

Irish Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: ‘I am delighted that Emily Hind – a bright and beautiful young girl – has been released and will be reunited with her family’

Ruth Munder, a released Israeli hostage, walks with an Israeli soldier shortly after her arrival in Israel on Friday

Hamas has said it was delaying the release of a second group of hostages, claiming that Israel had not complied with the deal’s terms and not delivered enough aid to the besieged enclave

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said 196 trucks of aid entered on Friday, and Israel said four fuel trucks and four tanks of gas entered Saturday

The hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross and are on their way to the Rafah Crossing in the Gaza Strip 

Tens of thousands of Israelis have amassed in Tel Aviv as the country waits for the return of a second group of hostages

People attend a rally organized by the Bring Them Home Now association to support families of kidnapped people and to call for release of hostages, in Tel Aviv

A total of 50 Israeli hostages are to be freed by Hamas in staggered releases over the four-day truce in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. 

Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed – something US President Joe Biden said he hoped would occur.

Separately, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to coordinate with parties on the ground and ‘ensure the deal continues to move smoothly’, according to a diplomat briefed on the visit. 

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss details with the media.

The start of the pause brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and levelled residential areas. 

This is the emotional moment a father reunited with his wife and two young daughters after they spent 49 days being held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza

Aviv Asher, two, her sister Raz, four and mother Doron, step off an Israeli military helicopter

The two girls were holding toys as they held tightly in their parent’s arms on the hospital bed, after being checked over by doctors 

A pair of  female IDF soldiers comfort Raz, four, and Aviv, two, following their release

An Israeli soldier sits with Raz as she sits down to eat shortly after the youngster was freed

Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent.

For the first time in more than a month, aid reached northern Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed there on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area yet.

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that Cairo was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement which would mean ‘the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.’

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

Israel and Hamas have said hostilities would resume as soon as the truce ends, although US President Joe Biden said on Friday there was a real chance of extending the truce.

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