An eight-year-old Irish-Israeli girl thought to have been murdered by Hamas may in fact be alive and being held hostage in Gaza, after her father said she would be better off dead than kidnapped by the terrorists.

Israeli intelligence told Emily Hand’s family there was a “high chance” she was still alive a month after reports emerged that she was one of at least 130 people slaughtered at Kibbutz Be’eri.

The girl was at a sleepover at a friend’s house the night before the Hamas attack on Oct 7. She, her friend and her friend’s mother are believed to be among about 240 hostages taken by the terror group.

Emily’s Irish father, Thomas Hand, had earlier been informed his daughter was dead in what now appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

“We were told that she had been murdered. We were in mourning,” Emily’s 26-year-old sister Natalie told Israeli TV after learning she may still be alive.

Addressing Emily directly, she added: “I want to tell you that we are doing everything to get you home. We know you are being held hostage. We love you so much and miss you.”

In a heartbreaking interview shortly after he was told she had been killed, Mr Hand had said he was relieved to hear Emily was dead rather than being held captive by Hamas.

“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,” he tearfully told CNN.

“They’d have no food. They’d have no water. She’d be in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people,” Mr Hand said.

“And terrified every minute, hour, day, and possible years to come. So death was a blessing. An absolute blessing.”

A keen dancer

He said Emily loved music and dancing, especially Beyoncé’s music videos.

“She was always chosen for the dance routines on the stage for the kibbutz for the holidays – always front and centre,” he said.

Mr Hand was born in Dún Laoghaire in Ireland before moving to England as a child. He became a kibbutz volunteer and moved to Israel when he was an adult.

After divorcing Natalie’s mother, who he met on the kibbutz, he married Emily’s mother, who died of breast cancer five years ago.

The Irish government said it was doing everything it could to support the family.

“This is a hugely traumatic situation for her family and for every family who finds themselves with their loved one held hostage,” Justice Minister Helen McEntee told RTE, Ireland’s state broadcaster.