Girl, 9, enjoys walk on beach with dad after hostage ordeal

03 December 2023 , 20:12

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Emily Hand with her dad and friend, who was also kidnapped, enjoy a day at the beach

Released hostage Emily Hand looks happy on a beach with her dad and is now planning on going to a Beyonce concert.

Irish-Israeli schoolgirl Emily, nine, was reunited with her family last week after being freed by Hamas after 50 days in captivity.

Emily, nine, was among the most high profile hostages freed. Holding her hand is her devoted father Thomas, 63 - along with their two dogs Johnsie and Schnitzel. The pets had actually been brought to the Gaza/Israel border a week ago to greet Emily when she was freed.

Now Dublin born Thomas is planning on giving his daughter the trip of her lifetime - hoping that something happy and positive will help with her recover from her ordeal.

Emily Hand was held hostage for 50 days (AP)

He said: "She adores Beyonce. I don't care where it is in the world, I am determined. Wherever she Beyonce performing anywhere in the world, Emily is going."

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Emily listened to Beyonce through headphones on her car journey from the Gaza border to an Israeli hospital after being freed by Hamas. Now they are planning on returning to their kibbutz home as soon as they can.

Thomas said: "We ask ourselves all the time when we can go back to Kibbutz Be'eri. I found paradise on earth for 30 or 31 years, And overnight it was turned into hell.”

Paul Martin