14 hostages to be released in exchange for 42 Palestinians

Emily Hand is understood to be have been held hostage by militants in Gaza after being captured in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7.

Her father Thomas, originally from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, last week made an emotional appeal for her release, saying the family was living through a “nightmare”, and getting Emily back was his “reason for living”.

Emily turned nine last month while in captivity.

Her family in Ireland held a birthday party for her at St Stephen’s Green in the Irish capital.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he is delighted that Emily, “a bright and beautiful young girl”, has been released and will be reunited with her family.

In a statement on Saturday evening, he said: “After weeks of trauma, this is a precious and deeply moving moment for the Hand family.

“The people of Ireland have been touched by Emily’s story, her innocence and the quiet dignity and determination of her father Tom.”

Hila Rotem, 13, is another hostage who made it to Egypt after spending weeks in Hamas captivity.

She was described as being “a friendly girl with a good heart who could never harm anyone else.

“She loves making TikTok videos, eating sushi, and riding her skateboard.

“She signed up for a gel polish course and excitedly awaited the start of classes, but her kidnapping abruptly ended that.”

In the days before Black Saturday, she vacationed in Korea and Thailand for her uncle’s wedding.

Hila managed to escape from her home in Kibbutz Be’eri from which her mother Raaya was kidnapped.

She succeeded in hiding in the bushes where she was then found and kidnapped.

Emily Hand, 9, was one of the 17 hostages released by Hamas on Saturday night.

Her mother, Liat, passed away from cancer when Emily was only two and a half years old.

A statement said: “Despite all the pain, Emily’s small family rallied to raise her and be by her side with lots of love, providing security and giving her everything a child her age only needs and wants.”

On October 7 Emily was sleeping at her best friend’s house when terrorists broke in.

After a few days, the family received notice that Emily’s body was found but as days passed, the IDF informed the family there was evidence indicating Emily was among the hostages in Gaza.

Since then, her family “waits for the moment they can hug her again”, a statement said.

One of the released hostages has been confirmed as Sharon Avigdori, 52, a drama therapist who works with people on the autism spectrum.

She was described as employing “endless sensitivity and compassion to reach children on the autism spectrum, working patiently within their world to nurture each child’s potential”.

Sharon was kidnapped with her daughter Noam from Kibbutz Be’eri. Additionally, 7 more members of her family were kidnapped and 3 were murdered.

Noam Avigdori, 12, was about to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. She was described as a “cheerful girl who’s always surrounded by many friends”.

“Noam is a member of the Scouts youth movement, a good friend to all, and very funny.”

The full list of released hostages include: Hila Rotem, Emily Hand, Maya Regev, Noam Or, Alma Or, Noga Weiss, Shiri Weiss, Sharon Avigdori, Noam Avigdori, Shoshan Haran, Adi Shoham, Yahel Shoham and Naveh Shoham.

Alma Or, 13, described as a “very pretty girl, a good friend, and a funny kid” was snatched alongside her elder brother Noam.

She was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Be’eri along with her older brother Noam and their father Dror. Their mother Yonat was murdered.

Their older brother Yahli survived the inferno as he was at his post in northern Israel where he is doing a year of national service.

Red Cross representatives have transferred the hostages released by Hamas to Egypt, according to the information that was received by the IDF.

17 hostages were released, including 13 Israeli hostages and 4 foreign hostages believed to be Thai nationals.

The released hostages’ convoy is currently making its way through Egypt to the meeting point with IDF soldiers in Kerem Shalom.

The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information.

IDF representatives will verify the list at the meeting point with the released hostages.

Hamas has reportedly released hostages who are on the way to Rafah crossing on the border of the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Red Cross vehicles were later seen crossing into Egypt.

It came in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, Qatari and Egyptian mediators said, after the militant group delayed the second round of swaps for several hours and claimed that Israel had violated the terms of a truce deal.

The last-minute delay had created a tense standoff on the second day of what’s meant to be a four-day cease-fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated a teenager who knocked the knife out of an attackers hand during the stabbing of children in Dublin.

Alan Loren-Guille, 17, was on his way to work in Spitalfields restaurant on Thursday when he came across the scene where a man had stabbed three children and two adults outside a school.

According to the Le Figaro newspaper, Mr Macron called him to “congratulate him and thank him for this act of bravery which helped save lives and which makes us all proud.”

Spitalfields restaurant posted its own tribute to Mr Loren-Guille saying: “This is our own 17 year old super hero Alan Loren-Guille who was one of the brave hero’s that managed to disarm the school children attacker yesterday in Dublin on his way to work.

“He is one of our brilliant French stagiaires in the kitchen @spitalfields_dublin. He noticed something happening as he passed by and selflessly jumped in to stop the attacker and managed to wrestle the knife off him.

“He was fairly unscathed but for a couple a cuts to his hand and face. Without this act of bravery who knows what else might have happened. Our prayers are with the poor children, families and teachers who were affected by this tragedy. Please lookout for one and other. Not all superheroes wear capes.”

The announcement of the deal between Israel and Hamas – and the subsequent release of some of those held captive in Gaza – has left those anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones facing a swirl of emotions, writes Tom Bennet in Tel Aviv.