Evyatar David, who endured 738 days in Hamas captivity before being released, has spoken publicly about his ordeal in an international interview for the first time, describing extreme starvation in Gaza’s tunnels and revealing what happened behind the scenes of the horrifying propaganda video in which he was forced to dig what his captors told him would be his own grave.
David, 25, was released on October 7, 2025, as part of a US-mediated hostage agreement, after spending more than two years in captivity. He had been abducted from the Nova music festival together with his childhood friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal. Speaking to CNN, David described the severe hunger he suffered underground, particularly during the months leading up to the release of the August 2025 Hamas propaganda video that showed him emaciated and holding a shovel as he dug his own grave.
David said his Hamas captors selected him to appear in the propaganda footage after comparing his physical condition with that of Gilboa-Dalal and determining that David looked worse.
“It’s staged, but it’s based on the truth, we didn’t eat for three months,” he recalled.
David described being so physically depleted that even holding the shovel for the staged scene was an enormous challenge. His captors, he said, showed no concern as his body began giving out.
“When I tried to dig the grave, just holding the shovel was almost impossible. When I told my captors that I noticed I was almost collapsing, they ignored me. I could hear them laughing, eating cakes and drinking tea, as if there wasn’t someone walking next to them who looked like a skeleton.”
David said the Hamas terrorists guarding him had access to food, air conditioning and television. Although his captors claimed there was no food available in Gaza, he said the terrorists themselves appeared well-fed and muscular even as the hostages were being starved.
Since returning home, David has faced a difficult and ongoing rehabilitation process. He said he continues to struggle with post-traumatic stress, including flashbacks and nightmares that awaken him at night. According to David, his family and friends were forced to launch a crowdfunding campaign because the assistance being provided by the government to released hostages has been insufficient.
Music has become an important source of comfort and a central part of David’s efforts to cope with the trauma he endured. He now plans to travel to the United States next month with his older brother for a series of public appearances aimed at ensuring that the world does not forget what the hostages suffered during their captivity.
{Matzav.com}
