Evyatar David, an Israeli national released after being held hostage, and whom his father stated was forced to dig his own grave by Hamas, has shown improvement in his health since his release, according to his father, Avishai David. Evyatar David was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, returning to his home in Kfar Saba, central Israel. His release was part of a ceasefire agreement that also involved the release of other hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Hostage's Post-Release Condition
Avishai David stated that his son's health is "improving every day" and that he is "growing back to his old self." He noted an increase in his son's "vitality," the return of "colour [to his face]," and his "cheeks getting fuller." Avishai David expressed relief, saying, "Thank God, he pulled through it and he's strong."
Evyatar David, aged 24, was discharged from Rabin Medical Centre along with two other freed hostages, Guy Gilboa Dalal and Eitan Mor. They were greeted by cheering crowds, including friends and neighbors, upon their return home.
Account of Captivity
In August, two months prior to Evyatar David's release, Hamas released a video depicting him in a narrow concrete tunnel. The video showed him in an emaciated state, a portrayal that drew condemnation from Israel and several Western leaders.
In the footage, Evyatar David stated, "I haven't eaten for days... I barely got drinking water." He was also seen engaged in digging activity, which he identified as preparing his own grave.
Evyatar David's brother, Ilay, described the August video as a "new form of cruelty," stating his brother appeared as "a human skeleton" and "suffers a great deal." Avishai David recounted his distress during his son's captivity, stating he "couldn't sleep, eat, drink properly" due to the proximity of his son's captivity.
Medical Observations
Dr. Michal Shteinman, director at Rabin Medical Centre, commented on the physical state of the three released hostages, observing that their bodies "still bore the marks of this horrific captivity." She added, "We can see their blood tests... and we've also heard their stories... they are not lying. You can see the marks of this metabolic trauma. Their skin tells their story. You can see the scars and the wounds." Despite these observations, Dr. Shteinman noted that the hostages "came back stronger than they were."
Context of Abduction and Release
Evyatar David was abducted from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He was among 20 living hostages released by Hamas under the initial phase of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
The agreement also involved Hamas transferring 15 deceased hostages, comprising 13 Israelis, one Nepalese national, and one Thai national. In return, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Additionally, 15 bodies of Palestinians were returned for every Israeli hostage's remains.
The Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities in southern Israel and the abduction of 251 individuals. Following this, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a military campaign in Gaza. Since the campaign began, over 68,000 people have been reported killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which are considered reliable by the UN.