Evyatar David, a music enthusiast dreaming of a career in the music industry, is currently being held in a Hamas tunnel along with his best friend, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, after being taken hostage during a music festival attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Evyatar’s brother, Ilay David, has been fighting for his release and has described him as “the kindest soul” he knows. The family has set up a website to share Evyatar’s story and highlight the importance of securing his freedom, as they emphasize how his “vibrant life” has been forever changed by the ordeal. Videos showcasing Evyatar’s guitar skills have been shared on the website to paint a picture of who he is.
In February, the David family received a sign of life from Evyatar and Guy when they were forced to participate in a Hamas propaganda film, showing them looking frail, tired, and desperate as they beg for their lives while being forced to watch a hostage release ceremony in Gaza. Ilay described the experience as “shocking and amazing and frightening,” having seen that the two men were alive and together. However, upon watching the video a second time, he noticed how emaciated and broken they appeared, underscoring the harsh conditions they were enduring while being held captive. The hostages are reportedly given very little food and water and are mostly kept underground in the tunnels, with limited access to sunlight.
Ilay’s fears for his brother’s safety have only intensified as former hostages who were held with Evyatar recounted the harsh conditions they experienced during captivity. Many hostages, including the Israelis being held by Hamas, have been subject to execution by their captors in the past. Ilay has taken various measures to raise awareness about his brother’s situation, including meeting with American lawmakers in Washington, D.C., in hopes of gaining support for Evyatar’s release. He believes that President Donald Trump could potentially play a significant role in securing the release of his brother and the remaining hostages, pointing to Trump’s involvement in securing the release of 33 hostages during a recent ceasefire deal.
Despite some hostages being released as part of a ceasefire agreement that has since fallen apart, many others, including Evyatar and Guy, remain captive in Gaza. Ilay continues to share his brother’s story, emphasizing that the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, are ongoing for those held by Hamas. He believes that increased visibility and pressure from the international community, along with intervention from political leaders like Trump, are crucial in ensuring the safe release of all hostages. The family’s website serves as a platform to advocate for Evyatar’s freedom and to shed light on the plight of those still held in captivity.
