- Evyatar David, a former Israeli hostage, recounted his harrowing experience of starvation and psychological abuse during his 738 days in Hamas captivity in an interview with CNN.
- David was abducted on October 7, 2023, from the Nova music festival along with his childhood friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
- In February 2025, David and Gilboa-Dalal were taken to a staged release ceremony where they were filmed pleading for their own freedom.
- In August 2025, Hamas released a propaganda video showing an emaciated David digging his own grave in a concrete tunnel.
- David was released on October 13, 2025, as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
- This month, David played guitar at his older brother Ilai's wedding, calling it 'the biggest closure and a huge moment of victory.'
- During his captivity, David experienced extreme starvation, stating that he and Gilboa-Dalal did not eat for three months while their captors had food.
- David explained that the scene of digging a grave in the propaganda video was staged, but his emaciation from hunger was real.
- He described the final months of his imprisonment as the hardest, suffering from hunger and psychological trauma.
- David has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences flashbacks and nightmares related to his captivity.
- He stated that during captivity, he was sustained by thoughts of his family and the hope of returning home.
Evyatar David, released after 738 days in Hamas captivity, shared his traumatic experiences, including extreme starvation and psychological abuse. "The starvation – beyond the lack of food and physical feeling that you’re always hungry – is the mental feeling that you have nothing to eat," he explained.17
David, who was abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack, described the final months of his captivity as particularly brutal, stating, "We didn’t eat for three months," while guards enjoyed food and comfort.
In a propaganda video released by Hamas in August 2025, David appeared emaciated, digging what he claimed was his own grave. He clarified, "It’s all staged, but it relies on the truth – we didn’t eat for three months," emphasizing the psychological torment he endured.4
David, now 25, continues to struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks and nightmares. "It can hit me at any time: one hour I can be fine and happy, and the next I remember something from captivity and experience flashbacks," he told CNN.10
Despite the trauma, David finds solace in music, which he credits for aiding his recovery. "If I feel sad or upset, it’s one of the best things I can do if I want to run from my thoughts and feel calm and unstressed," he said.
As he plans to share his story publicly, David hopes to keep the memories of his fellow captives alive, stating, "It’s very important for us to keep our stories alive and that people understand and remember what we’ve been through."
“David said he and Guy Gilboa-Dalal did not eat for three months while guards had food, air conditioning, and television. He described the grave-digging scene as staged but based on truth, and he still wakes from nightmares and struggles with PTSD.”
Межа. Новини України.
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