Former Gaza hostage launches crowdfunding for recovery, citing government aid shortfall

Evyatar David, a former hostage held by Hamas in Gaza for over two years, has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to support his recovery efforts, asserting that the Israeli government's financial assistance is inadequate for former captives. David, who was 22 when abducted from the Nova Music Festival during the October 7 massacre, expressed his hope that a future government will offer better support.

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I hope the next government will do better. I don’t know who it’s going to be, but I trust they will do better.

Speaking to CNN, David described his recovery process as "very complicated" and a significant challenge to navigate. "I’m trying to understand how to do good rehab and help myself with this," he stated, reflecting on the profound impact captivity has had on his life. He noted the stark contrast between his life before Hamas captivity and his current reality, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to process his experiences.

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I’m trying to understand how to do good rehab and help myself with this.

David recounted deeply disturbing experiences during his captivity, including being forced by his captors in August 2025 to film a video of himself digging his own grave within a Gaza terror tunnel. He revealed that during this staged filming, he and another captive, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, were told to strip to compare their deteriorating physiques. David was chosen for the video because his captors deemed he looked worse.

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Now it’s very different. It still takes time to process all this.

He further detailed the severe starvation he and Gilboa-Dalal endured, stating they "didn't eat for three months." David explained that while the video was staged, it was based on the truth of their weakened condition. He described the immense physical difficulty of holding the shovel to dig the grave, calling it "probably the hardest physical thing I ever did." The psychological toll of prolonged starvation also created significant anxiety and conflict between him and Gilboa-Dalal, as they rationed minimal food and water, leading to intense arguments fueled by hunger and uncertainty about their survival.

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We didn't eat for three months.