Former Hamas Hostage Recalls Torture While Digging His Own Grave in First CNN Interview

Eitan David, 25, who was released on October 7, 2025, after 738 days in Hamas captivity through a US-mediated hostage deal, broke his silence in his first international interview with CNN. David, kidnapped from a Nova party alongside his childhood friend Guy Gelboim-Dalal, described the extreme hunger he endured in the tunnels, which worsened in the months before a propaganda video surfaced in August 2025 showing him weakly digging his own grave with a shovel. His captors chose him for the video because he appeared physically worse than Gelboim-Dalal. "It was staged but based on truth; we hadn't eaten for three months," he said. He recounted the difficulty of holding the shovel and how his captors ignored his near-collapse, instead laughing, eating cakes, and drinking tea nearby.

David revealed that his guards had access to food, air conditioning, and television, contradicting their claims of food shortages in Gaza, as they appeared muscular and well-fed. Since his release, David has faced a challenging rehabilitation process, battling post-traumatic stress, flashbacks, and nightmares. His family and friends launched a crowdfunding campaign due to insufficient state support for released hostages. Music has been a vital source of comfort and coping for him. David plans to embark next month on a public performance tour in the United States with his older brother to ensure the world remembers the ordeal endured by the hostages.