Former hostage Evyatar David spoke publicly for the first time since returning home, describing the difficult rehabilitation process he has faced following nearly two years in Hamas captivity.

David was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, together with his childhood friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and remained in captivity until October 13, 2025. In a social media post on Thursday, he said he survived by focusing on making it through one day at a time.

“I was kidnapped, taken into a dark tunnel, and all I could think about was surviving one more day. And then another day. Until I returned home,” David wrote. He said thoughts of his parents, family and friends, along with the hope that nobody would give up on him, kept him going during his darkest moments.

David said his return home marked only the beginning of another difficult struggle. “I am coping with PTSD and flashbacks. There are moments when I am in a safe place, surrounded by people I love, but my mind still goes back there,” he wrote. “I understood that surviving captivity is one thing. Truly recovering is another battle entirely.”

He added that he is not seeking pity and remains determined to rebuild his life, get married and start a family.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)