"Death was a blessing": Why father was glad to hear his daughter was killed
A devastated, recently widowed father has revealed why he was relieved his eight-year-old daughter was killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel.
Thomas Hand, an Irish-born father who moved to Israel 30 years ago, tearfully told CNN that he welcomed the news that his daughter, Emily, had been killed quickly by Hamas, because it was better than being taken hostage and tortured by the terrorists.
Mr Hand was already grieving the loss of his wife, who died of cancer in recent years, when his daughter was killed during the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
In the heartbreaking interview, Mr Hand broke down in tears as he recounted the moment he was finally told his daughter's body had been found, and said his reaction was one of relief that she had not been kidnapped instead.
He said in a shaking voice, "They just said we found Emily, she's dead and I went, 'yes'. I went, 'yes' and smiled because that is the best news of the possibilities that I knew."
"That was the best, possibly that I was hoping for. She was either dead or in Gaza. And if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death."
"That is worse than death. The way they treat you. They'd have no food, they'd have no water."
He continued, "She'd be in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people and terrified every minute, hour, day and possible years to come."
"So, death was a blessing, an absolute blessing."
Recounting the savage attack, Mr Hand said, "I had to think of Emily. She already lost her mother, I couldn't risk her losing her father too."
Revealing harrowing details of events surrounding the attack, he shared why he survived and his daughter did not.
"She doesn't do it very often, but unfortunately that night, that particular night - Friday night - she went to sleep at her friend's house."
The following morning, Hamas attacked the kibbutz where Emily was staying, killing at least 100 civilians and taking hostages to Gaza.
Image credits: CNN