Tom Hand, a father from Dublin, has criticized the Irish government for recognizing the state of Palestine, following the kidnapping of his daughter, Emily, in Gaza by Hamas militants last October. Emily, a dual Irish-Israeli citizen, was held hostage for 50 days before being released in November with the help of Irish authorities.
Despite his gratitude for Emily’s return, Mr. Hand believes that recognizing Palestine rewards Hamas for their violent actions. The decision to establish diplomatic relations with Ramallah is seen as controversial by Mr. Hand, who feels embarrassed to call himself Irish.
He expressed disappointment in the government’s support for Hamas, citing videos of their violence as proof of their actions. The recognition of Palestine is viewed as a reward for violence by Mr. Hand, who believes that supporting Hamas is unacceptable.
While Emily is on the path to recovery, Mr. Hand remains hopeful for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The international efforts to negotiate their release have so far been unsuccessful.