The Irish Embassy in Israel has confirmed that the eight-year-old Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand is now believed to have been abducted and not murdered by Hamas during the attacks of 7 October as originally thought.
It is understood Emily's family were informed a number of days ago that DNA tests had led the authorities to believe her remains were not among those found at a Kibbutz in southern Israel.
Emily Hand was staying with friends during a sleepover at the Be'eri Kibbutz which is close to the border with Gaza.
Speaking in Beijing, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there was a "strong likelihood" that Emily "had been abducted".
"We were made aware of the situation in respect of Emily, and our ambassador in Israel has been in touch with the family and it's very sensitive," he said.
Mr Martin said that the Government had been in touch with "key interlocutors" and foreign ministers in the region to make them aware of the "potential" situation.
He declined to comment on whether these interlocutors had engaged with Hamas on Ireland's behalf.
He said: "[I've] no further comment to make other than that we're aware of the situation and we've made people aware of the situation - that there's a potential Irish citizen and the strong likelihood is that she has been abducted."
Mr Martin also said there is "no evidence" that other Irish citizens are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
An Israeli government spokesperson has said he cannot confirm if Emily Hand is in Gaza.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One, Eylon Levy said if true, it is "really a horrific story" and "truly heartbreaking".
Mr Levy said there are over 30 children under the age of 18 being held hostage in Gaza.
He said Israel is demanding their "immediate and unconditional return".
130 Kibbutz members killed
Early on the morning of 7 October the Kibbutz was attacked by around 70 Hamas militants. 130 members of the Kibbutz were reportedly killed as the gunmen went door to door. The bodies of some 20 children were found, many of which had been burned beyond recognition.
Emily’s father, Dubliner Tom Hand, was told by the authorities that his daughter was among the dead. In an interview with CNN shortly afterwards, he said he was relieved that his daughter had been killed, believing that a kidnapping by those who had carried out the atrocities would be worse.
However, it has emerged that the authorities now believe that Emily was not killed, and was most likely abducted and being held by Hamas in Gaza.
That is because DNA tests on the bodies of dead children at the Kibbutz have revealed that Emily was not among the dead.
Emily’s half sister Natali has made a direct appeal through an independent tv channel for her safe return.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is continuing to provide consular assistance to Tom Hand and his family.
Govt 'doing everything it can'
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said the Government is "doing everything it can" to support the family of Emily Hand and all families caught up in the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said that "this is a hugely traumatic situation for her family and for every family who finds themselves with their loved one held hostage".
She said the Government is doing everything that it can to support Emily's family and others to make sure that people can be returned home safely to their families.
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"We have called from the very beginning for Hamas to release any hostages that they might have and of course, where Irish citizens are involved here, every effort has been made to support them."
In relation to getting Irish citizens out of Gaza, Minister McEntee said: "There has unfortunately been a delay in citizens being released … there's no list, and we don't have any further information as to what number we might be on a list or where Irish citizens might be on that list."
She said the Government is using "every diplomatic channel open and available to us" to try and make sure that the hostages are released and that they can return home and be reunited with their families.
"Everybody is concerned of what we're experiencing and what we're witnessing on an hourly basis in Gaza.
"But we need to make sure that we do everything that we can to call for that humanitarian ceasefire as well, to allow citizens to leave to allow that humanitarian aid to get in and that we ultimately try and come to a conclusion here and a solution that would keep all citizens safe."
On a call from Sinn Féin to expel the Israeli ambassador, she said: "You cannot call for every diplomatic channel available to us to be used to support our citizens, and then in the same breath call for ambassadors to be expelled.
"It doesn't work. That's not how diplomacy works. We need to keep those channels open and Sinn Féin need to acknowledge that if we want to support and help Irish citizens on the ground in Gaza, we need to keep all of these channels open and that's exactly what we will do."
