Pledge to leave ‘no stone unturned’ in bid to return Emily Hand to her family

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

The Tánaiste has said the government will leave “no stone unturned” in their efforts to return an Irish-Israeli girl to her family.

Emily Hand, eight, was initially thought to be dead in the aftermath of the attack on Israeli citizens on October 7th, but recent information indicates that she is now feared kidnapped to Gaza.

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin met Emily’s father Tom in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon.

“Everyone in Ireland feels the deepest sympathy for Thomas and all the Hand family, given the horrific and traumatic ordeal they are currently experiencing,” he said.

“Emily will turn nine on Friday… This brilliant and talented young girl needs to be returned to her family immediately.

“My department will leave no stone unturned in pursuing that outcome.”

He added: “We have been engaging intensively internationally through political, official and security channels in a bid to secure Emily’s safe return.

“Later this week, I will be raising Emily’s case in all appropriate meetings during my visit to Israel, Egypt and the occupied Palestinian territory.

“All our thoughts are with Emily and her family at this profoundly difficult time. All hostages in Gaza should be released immediately and unconditionally.”

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was important not to forget Emily’s case.

The Taoiseach said he met the Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich about Irish citizens who wished to leave Gaza and was told that it is not the case that Israel is refusing to let Irish citizens leave.

“I’m very conscious that we have citizens in Gaza, I’m very conscious that there’s a young Irish girl, nine years old this week, Emily Hand, who is being held by Hamas as a hostage in Gaza, let’s not forget her,” he told RTÉ Radio.

“Very conscious that we have 400 Irish troops on the Israeli border in Golan, in southern Lebanon. Their safety is paramount to me and in everything we do and say, we’re bearing all of those things very much in mind.”

He said that the situation in Gaza is “deteriorating rapidly”, and a ceasefire should be put in place and adhered to by all sides.

He said that Hamas cannot be blamed for violence in the West Bank, which he said was “significant” that it had been raised as an issue by British PM Rishi Sunak, an ally of Israel.

He said Ireland would not change its position in calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.