Former Israeli Hostage Evyatar David Reflects on 738 Days of Captivity and the Journey of Recovery
Evyatar David, a former Israeli hostage who spent 738 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, recently shared his experiences of hunger, abuse, and psychological trauma. Released in October 2025 as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, David was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7, 2023, attack. He described the final months of his imprisonment as a period of 'extreme starvation,' where he and his childhood friend, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, went without food for three months while their captors remained well-fed. David noted that he was selected for a Hamas propaganda video in August 2025 because of his emaciated physical state, where he was staged to dig his own grave. He currently struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences frequent flashbacks and nightmares. To aid his recovery, David relies heavily on music and public speaking. He and his older brother plan to travel to the United States next month to share his story and ensure the world does not forget the experiences of the hostages.