Overview
- In his first international interview published Wednesday, David said he endured prolonged extreme starvation and was forced to perform in a Hamas propaganda video in which he dug what captors called his grave.
- David was seized at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 and held mainly underground in Gaza until his release in 2025 under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
- He described being chosen for the filmed grave scene because of his weakened state and said guards ate and laughed nearby while he could barely hold the shovel.
- David says he continues to suffer PTSD, nightmares, and flashbacks, uses music as a coping tool, and is relying on family-led crowdfunding while planning public appearances in the United States.
- His firsthand account reinforces earlier reporting on staged Hamas videos, deepens understanding of captors' psychological tactics, and intensifies pressure on Israeli authorities to improve rehabilitation and public recognition for released hostages.