Emily Hand: Father describes how his young daughter survived Hamas captivity
CNNTel Aviv, Israel CNN — Emily Hand had to run from house to house, forced to move by Hamas as Israeli forces attacked Gaza, her father Thomas Hand told CNN. “I want to know so much information … but you have to let them, when they are ready, come out with it.” Emily, who turned 9 in captivity, was held with her friend Hila Rotem-Shoshani and Hila’s mother Raaya before the children were released last Saturday. “I probably squeezed her too hard,” he added, giving his view of the now iconic video of the reunion where he greets his daughter with her nickname “Emush.” “It was only when she stepped back that I could see her face was chiseled, like mine, whereas before it was chubby, girly, a young kid face.” Like the other hostages, Emily has lost body weight and Hand said he had never seen her so pale. “She’d been conditioned not to make any noise.” A photograph of father and daughter released by the Israel Defense Forces shows a glimpse of the situation, Thomas said. “She’s a very determined little girl, very strong, I knew that her spirit would get her through it.” Emily and Hila now look out for each other, Hand said.
History of this topic
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