THERE is hope that nine-year-old Irish girl Emily Hand could be freed from her hostage hell within days after Hamas and Israel agreed to a four-day ceasefire.
After seven weeks of shocking violence in the Hamas-Israel war, both parties have agreed to a temporary truce following interventions from Qatar and the US.
There is ‘real hope’ that nine-year-old Emily Hand could be freed very soon
Emily’s dad Thomas being comforted Orit Meir, the mother of Almog Meir, who is also being held hostageGetty Images – Getty
As part of the ceasefire, the warring sides have agreed to swap hostages, with 50 Hamas hostages to be freed along with 150 Palestinians held in Israel.
It is understood that children and vulnerable adults will be among the first hostages to be released, with hopes that little Emily Hand will be among those set free this weekend.
It’s understood that under the agreed deal, for every 10 additional hostages released, the ceasefire will be extended by one day to a maximum of 10 days.
Reports in Israel tonight listed Emily among the first hostages to be let go; however, this list could not be verified by Irish authorities.
A Government source said: “There is a real hope that Emily will be among the first hostages released but we can not confirm that this list is authentic yet.
“The Government has been pushing in every channel possible to make sure Emily is among the first hostages released if there was any arrangement.”
However, Israel’s national security adviser tonight confirmed that the release of hostages under a temporary truce agreement with Gaza’s Hamas rulers will not happen before Friday.
Tzachi Hanegbi said in a statement released by the prime minister’s office: “Negotiations for the release of our captives are progressing and continue all the time.
“The start of the release will proceed according to the original agreement between the parties, and not before Friday.”
Speaking in the Dail today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he hopes that Emily will be among the first hostages released by Hamas following the truce deal.
He said: “The ceasefire will facilitate the release of 50 hostages being held by Palestinians. We hope this will include Emily Hand.
“It will also facilitate the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, some of whom are teenage boys imprisoned for little more than throwing stones at armed soldiers.
“The four-day ceasefire will allow humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. This will include food, fuel, medicines, water and all of the basics needed for human life.
“Individually and as part of the UN and EU, Ireland will do anything we can to ensure that happens well.
‘BLINDED BY RAGE’
“It is our view that the ceasefire should not just last for four days and that it should be extended to allow space for a peace initiative to bring a permanent end to violence in the region, resulting in a two-state solution and Israel and Palestine living side-by-side as secure and viable states.”
But the Taoiseach also questioned whether Israel “listens to anyone anymore”.
He added: “Sadly, the Israeli government doesn’t listen to us. I’m not sure the Israeli government listens to anyone anymore. They used to listen to the Americans. I’m not even sure if that’s the case anymore.
“They are, as President Biden said, at risk of being blinded by rage. And it’s the sad reality that I’m not actually sure that any action or statement by us or the European Union or the US will change the current course of action that they are on.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean that we don’t do the right thing. And we have increased our humanitarian aid to Gaza and Palestine.
“We have provided additional funding to the International Criminal Court so they can fund the investigation into war crimes that may have been committed in the Palestinian territories and will continue to press at UN level and EU level.”
CASE FOCUS
Providing an update on the status of Emily, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomes the announced agreement between Israel and Hamas for a truce and the release of some of the hostages held in Gaza.
“Our focus in particular is on the case of nine-year old Irish citizen Emily Hand.
“We have worked consistently for her release over recent weeks, including through extensive contacts with regional partners. There is no official confirmation at this time of those scheduled to be released under this agreement.
“The department welcomes the truce agreed as part of the hostage deal. A break in hostilities is essential to allow for significant increased humanitarian access. Gaza’s civilian population urgently need fuel, food, water, and medical supplies, on a sustained basis and at scale.”
Some families welcomed the agreement.
‘CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC’
Tomer Keshet, whose cousin Yarden Bibas was taken by Hamas in October along with his wife and two children, said the family is “cautiously optimistic” – and knows Yarden, as a man, will not be released yet.
He told RTE’s News At One: “We cannot fully or even partially trust Hamas as it performed great atrocities, and we know that nothing is final until they are here with us. We don’t know if they are part of this deal – we only hope.
“It’s a joy mixed with tears and sadness. We want everyone to be back. The entire community wants to get their sons and daughters back … their mothers, their fathers, their brothers and sisters.”
Neta Heiman Mina, whose 84-year-old mother was taken on October 7, said the deal is “good” and “hopeful”.
She told RTE’s Morning Ireland: “I hope my mom will come back but even if not, some people are coming back, it’s good.
“It’s not simple to wait but we are waiting and hoping. I am trying to be not very hopeful because I don’t want to be disappointed.”
‘MORE ACTION NEEDED’
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said the exchange “will be a welcome relief for all those involved and their families, but far more action is needed to address ongoing suffering and injustice”.
Amnesty’s Agnès Callamard reiterated the organisation’s call for all armed groups to release civilians held hostage in Gaza and for Israel to release Palestinians detained unlawfully.
She added: “We call on all the negotiators involved in this first pause, the Israel authorities and Hamas and other armed groups to do absolutely everything in their power and influence to ensure that this humanitarian pause is extended into a sustained ceasefire.
“Humanity must prevail. Not just a little bit of it.”
Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland said the truce “is a much needed and welcome glimmer of hope in what has been a devastating few weeks for so many” but it “is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the immense humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza right now”.
He added: “The sheer scale of human suffering means that a four-day pause will hardly scratch the surface of the extensive assistance required for the affected communities.
SUFFERING CIVILIANS
“What use is giving bread one day if you are to start bombing again the next? The international community must build on this progress and unite in urging for a prolonged and meaningful ceasefire, one that allows for the delivery of essential aid to those in desperate need and ends the suffering of all civilians.”
Christian Aid also said the pause of fighting “falls far short of the permanent ceasefire necessary to provide desperately needed supplies”.
William Bell, Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy at Christian Aid, added: “A humanitarian pause alone risks a pause, bomb, pause, bomb scenario.
“That is dehumanising, unacceptable and offers little room for hope or the conditions to achieve a lasting peace.”
In the Dail, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns reiterated her call for Mr Varadkar to back a suspension of Israel’s trade deal with the EU.
She said: “Taoiseach, there must be consequences if Israel is determined to continue this barbarism.”
People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett also said Ireland and the international community must urgently impose sanctions on Israel to try and prevent a resumption of Israeli violence after the temporary truce expires.
The TD added: “There is an urgency and legal obligation for Ireland to take a lead and remind the entire international community, particularly the US, UK and EU of their obligations under the Genocide Convention to use all means available to prevent the commission of genocide against the Palestinian people.
“With Israel stating clearly that it will resume its barbaric assault on Gaza after the truce expires, we must do everything we can over the next few days to prevent the resumption of the slaughter we have witnessed over the last weeks.”
Emily with her father John
Israeli ambassdor to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, with families of hostages held by HamasAFP or licensors
The Taoiseach has said he hopes Emily will be one of the first freed2023 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
