The war between Israel and Palestine continues to leave hundreds of dead in its wake. This week, an Irish citizen starred in a most atypical scene after receiving the worst news a father can receive: his 8-year-old daughter had died.
Thomas Hand spent 48 hours waiting for news of his little Emily, who had gone to celebrate a pajama party with her friends inside her kibbutz. That same night, Hamas stormed the kibbutz, massacring at least 100 people.
The kibbutz where Thomas resided was under fire for twelve hours that day, during which he did not know the whereabouts of his daughter. In an interview with CNN, the Irishman shared his heartbreaking nightmare.
"We found Emily, she had passed away, and I said 'YES!', and I smiled, because it was the best news possible. It was the possibility that I was waiting for, since she would be dead or in Gaza, and if you know the The smallest thing they do with women in Gaza... is worse than death (...) Death was an absolute blessing," says Thomas through tears.
The father, relieved by the situation, has described what his daughter's situation would be like if she had been in Gaza: "They would have no food. They would have no water. She would be in a dark room full of God knows how many people. And terrified every minute, hour , day and possible years to come."
On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces took journalists, including a Fox News crew, to Be'eri, the kibbutz where Thomas and his family were staying. Located five kilometers from the Gaza border, this kibbutz was known as an artistic and agricultural community of 1,200 people.
