The father of an eight-year-old Irish-Israeli girl who is understood to have been abducted by Hamas during the 7 October attacks has said he will "never let her out of my sight" if the family can get her back alive.
Dubliner Tom Hand was told by the authorities after the Hamas attacks a month ago that his daughter Emily was among the dead.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Mr Hand said it was a relief to find out that she had not been kidnapped because he feared for what could happen to her in Gaza.
It is now believed Emily was not killed and was most likely abducted and is being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hand said: "In some ways I regret that interview because of some of the things I said. Some things that might have put her in danger.
"We move on. Now - the strong possibility that she's in Gaza - now it's hope, we can only hope that we can get her back alive."
Emily Hand was staying with friends during a sleepover at the Be'eri Kibbutz, close to the border with Gaza, when Hamas launched its attacks across southern Israel.
More than 100 people were killed in the kibbutz.
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.
"It's her birthday this month, the 17th" Mr Hand said. "She's not even going to know it's her birthday. There will be no cake, no party, no friends celebrating."
"She'll still be there living in terror every day. We just want her back. We want to see her again. We want to love her again, hug her again, kiss her again. Never let her out of my sight again."
Israel has bombarded Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks which killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians.
Gaza health officials say the Israeli assault has killed more than 10,000 people, including around 4,100 children.
