Emily Hand, the now nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl held hostage by Hamas, has been released.
Emily, who marked her ninth birthday while being held hostage, was hand over to the Red Cross along with eight other Israeli children and five women, in Khan Yunis and driven to the Rafah crossing on the Gaza Strip and into Egypt on Saturday night.
Once in Egypt the hostages were identified by Israeli security officials and flown by helicopter to a hospital in Israel.
At the hospital, Emily was reunited with her father Thomas and her two half siblings. Thomas promised his daughter the best birthday party of her nine years.
Emily was taken hostage on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel and was held in captivity for fifty days.
In a statement, President Michael D. Higgins said: “The release of Emily Hand brings to an end what has been a horrific time for all of her family.
"May I send my best wishes to Emily, to her father Thomas and her sister Natali who I have met in recent weeks, and to all those who are close to her after what I know has been an extremely traumatic time.
"It is my great hope that Emily can now, despite all that she has endured, enjoy a happy and fulfilling life after what has been an unimaginable situation for such a young child.
"The release of Emily to her family has been a priority of the Government in their diplomatic efforts in recent weeks and I think it is important that this work is recognised.
"I also welcome the release of Shoshan Haran, and of Adi, Naveh and Yahel Shoham, whose relatives I also met with the Hand family.
"While we particularly recognise this important moment as an Irish-Israeli child is released, we must also retain a focus on what is now needed - a durable ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and a commitment from all sides to engaging in the task of building what can be an enduring peace.”
