IRISH-Israeli girl Emily Hand is speaking only in whispers since being released by her Hamas kidnappers, her father has said.
The nine-year-old was released last week after 50 days in captivity following her abduction during the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas.
She was taken from Kibbutz Be’eri along with her 13-year-old friend, who has also been returned to her family.
The girls were among 17 captives released by Hamas as part of a hostage exchange with Israel.
Emily's father, Tony Hand, told The Sun newspaper that before her ordeal, "she was a normal, happy noisy kid".
He said: "But now she whispers - she was moving her lips with no volume or even air coming out."
Mr Hand said his daughter was forced to run from house-to-house in Gaza while under fire from shelling during her captivity, as Hamas captors attempted to stay "one step ahead" of the Israeli army.
"She must have been absolutely terrified – an eight-year-old girl being led by strangers from one blown-up shell of a house to the next in the middle of a war zone," he said.
He said that his daughter, whose ninth birthday occurred while she was captive, had lost weight during her ordeal but was now "eating like a horse".
"I can’t bear to think about what she’s been through – she’s been terrorised by terrorists in hell – but as her dad, it’s my job to make it better, and I will," he said.
"I know now I’m going to become an overprotective dad and still can’t bear to let her out of my sight."
