Hamas releases footage of captive Evyatar David
In a chilling development, Hamas terrorists have released a video showing a sign of life from Eviatar David, a 25-year-old musician from Kfar Saba who was kidnapped 655 days ago. The video, shared on Telegram, was shown during a hostage deal in February, but the families of Evyatar and his friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was also kidnapped, have not granted permission for its publication.
The video depicts Evyatar lying on the floor, frightened, with someone in the frame blinded him with a flashlight. It was part of a "ceremony" during the hostage deal where three individuals, Omar Wenkert, Omar Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen, were released. However, Evyatar and Guy were not among those freed.
Eviatar was last heard from on the morning of the attack, telling his mother there was rocket fire. He was kidnapped from the Nova music party in Re'im. The musician, skilled in playing acoustic and classical guitar, is the middle child of Galia and Avishai. He has an older brother named Eli (26) and a younger sister named Ye'ela (18).
The families of the kidnapped have requested that the video or parts of it will only be published with their permission. This plea underscores the emotional toll the ordeal has taken on them.
Hamas's use of psychological terrorism tactics in the kidnapping of Eviatar and Guy is part of a broader cognitive warfare strategy aimed at paralyzing Israeli leadership, fracturing public unity, and manipulating international perceptions. By abducting civilians and soldiers, Hamas has weaponized empathy to create psychological pressure on Israeli society and its government.
The hostages, including Eviatar, have become central to a "hostages of the mind" phenomenon, where the mental and emotional weight of their captivity functions as a form of cognitive warfare designed to disrupt the opponent’s decision-making and morale. This approach fits within Hamas’s broader ideological framework of martyrdom and sacrifice, intensifying psychological pressure on adversaries.
As the world awaits news of Eviatar's and Guy's safe return, the hope is that this latest development will bring renewed attention to their plight and hasten their release. The families' resolve remains strong, and they continue to seek their loved ones' safe return.
- The release of the video depicting Evyatar's captivity during the hostage deal, shared on Telegram, is a part of the general news, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts category, as it involves a kidnapping and likely manipulation of international perceptions by Hamas.
- The refusal of Eviatar and Guy's families to grant permission for the publication of the video is a political decision, illustrating the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on them, as well as their determination to maintain control over their loved ones' stories in the face of Hamas's psychological warfare tactics.
