Brother of Israeli hostage Evyatar David: 'I can't watch the video'

“I can't bring myself to watch that video because I’ll fall apart. I can’t allow myself to see Evyatar like that right now because I need to stay focused and fight for him,” said Ilai David on Sunday morning in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet. His brother Evyatar has been held captive by Hamas for 667 days.

In the video released by Hamas over the weekend, Evyatar appears to be suffering from malnutrition. He is seen being forced by Hamas militants to dig his own grave.

Ilai David said, “I understand the immediate danger to his life right now. We know it's a matter of days if he doesn’t receive medical treatment and food. I see my parents falling apart before my eyes. I have to be there for them and support them, so I simply can’t watch that video right now.”

הוכרח על-ידי המחבלים לחפור לעצמו קבר: הסרטון הנוסף של החטוף אביתר דוד, באישור המשפחה@YCiechanover @AnnaPines_ pic.twitter.com/BJXTa2Rnsz

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 2, 2025

When asked if his parents had watched the video showing Evyatar, Ilai responded, “My mother insisted not to – she can’t bear it. My father insisted on watching. He needs to feel Evyatar in every way possible. It broke him. It’s hard to see your child like that – like what we saw during the Holocaust 80 years ago. To know that he’s suffering like this and that he’s been deliberately starved for months – it’s incomprehensible.”