Evyatar David details PTSD after Hamas captivity and forced propaganda video

Former Israeli hostage Evyatar David, 25, recounted the harrowing conditions he endured after being abducted with friend Guy Gilboa‑Dalal from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. Held by Hamas in Gaza for more than two years, the men were confined to a small apartment, given only dirty water and scant food, and prohibited from speaking to each other for weeks. In a propaganda video filmed three months before his release, David was forced to strip, swallow water mixed with soap and dirt, and march blindfolded while guards ate in front of him.

Nine months after his October 2025 release, David told Israeli TV channel 12 that he continues to suffer post‑traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks and anxiety that transport him back to the tunnels. He said the psychological battle of recovery is ongoing, and friends have launched a fundraising campaign to support his rehabilitation and help him rebuild a normal life.