Thomas Hand’s nine-year-old daughter, Emily, was kidnapped on October 7 and was returned in the first hostage deal after more than 50 days in captivity.
Though Emily is now home, Thomas joined the delegation of Knesset members and other hostage family members to meet with lawmakers in Washington, DC to advocate for a hostage deal.
“What can I do? I got my loved one back,” Thomas asked The Jerusalem Post. “Every parent, brother, and sister needs to get their loved one back.
"I can only help just by being here, because of what's happened to me and my family somehow gives support to them, gives them hope that it's possible that it can happen," Thomas said.
After four months, Thomas said it’s hard to keep up hope.
Holding out hope in the face of war
“It just fades and fades and fades. I hope I lift their spirits.”
Thomas said every person on Capitol Hill the delegation spoke to on Tuesday was very positive.
“They’re going to support us until the very end,” Thomas said. “No matter what.”
Two months after her release, Thomas said Emily is doing fantastic.
“You would not believe she spent two months in Gaza,” Thomas said. “She’s incredibly strong.”
Thomas told The Post Emily and her friend, Hila Rotem, who together were held hostage with Hila’s mother, Ra’aya, have seen each other since their release.
They were great friends before, Thomas said, but their bond is now deeper than that.
Thomas said he first learned Emily was still alive after three weeks presuming she was dead, because someone spotted Ra’aya with two girls, assuming Hila and Emily were both Ra’aya’s daughters.
Thomas was in tears Wednesday afternoon while addressing reporters and a group of bipartisan congressional members.
Thomas said he spends his days now taking Emily to therapy appointments.He said the time Emily was held hostage was the hardest time of his life, and the families waiting now are waiting three-quarters longer than he did.“I don’t know how these people are still standing. I really don’t. Because as soon as I got me back I literally physically collapsed. I had nothing left inside me,” Thomas said. “All my anger and all my adrenaline had gone. Once you get back, you just relax. You’re running on empty all the time. I don’t know how these people survive.”