The shocking story of Eviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal- forced to watch fellow hostages go free

A haunting video released by Hamas on Saturday offered a dual-edged revelation for the families of Eviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal: confirmation that the two childhood friends, abducted from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, remain alive and together in Gaza. For Eviatar’s family, it marked the first sign of life since his capture; for Guy’s, it reinforced earlier evidence of his survival. Amid the cruelty of their captivity, the footage provided a flicker of relief—the knowledge that the inseparable pair continue to support each other.

Eviatar David, 25, from Kfar Saba, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, from Alfei Menashe, have been best friends since they were one-and-a-half years old. Their bond carried them through school, military service, and countless shared moments. On October 7, they attended the Nova festival in Re’im alongside friends Idan Harmati and Ron Tsarfati, who were killed by Hamas attackers. Eviatar and Guy hid together, were caught together, and were taken to Gaza as a unit.

Since their abduction, their families have held onto hope that they remain alive and united. The Hamas video, showing them seated side by side as they watched Saturday’s release of six hostages, confirmed their fears of enduring torment but also their resilience in companionship. “They’re alive,” wrote Eviatar’s sister, Yaela David, on social media. “They’ve been thrust into the most shocking, vile situation. I admire you, my brothers.”

Guy’s family received a separate sign of life on Saturday, relayed by a released hostage who had spent significant time with him in captivity. “After eight months, we finally have proof Guy is alive,” his father, Ilan Dalal, told Kan Reshet Bet radio. “It’s a huge relief, but the real goal is getting him home with the others. We can’t stop pushing.”

Ilan reflected on the emotional weight of the moment: “Knowing he’s alive helps us breathe, but I can’t stop thinking about what he feels, watching others leave while he stays behind.”

Eviatar’s last contact came on the morning of October 7, when he phoned his mother, Galia, to report rocket fire before the line went dead. Hours later, a Hamas Telegram video showed him lying on the floor, disoriented, under a blinding flashlight beam. His family noted he was taken without his glasses, leaving him nearly blind. A subsequent clip captured him being led, hands tied, by an armed captor. A talented guitarist—acoustic and classical—Aviatar is the middle child of Galia and Avishai, with siblings Eli, 26, and Yaela, 18.

The Hamas footage, while a stark display of their ordeal, affirmed for both families that Eviatar and Guy face it together. As the ceasefire’s first phase nears its close, their story stands as a testament to endurance—and a reminder of those still waiting to return.