“I love you, brother”: Holding on to hope for a loved one taken by Hamas

Let's play music together again.

we will hug you again. We are planning to travel to Thailand together. We celebrate your return.

More than 420 days have passed since October 7, 2023. It has been more than a year since my brother Ebiatal David was imprisoned underground in Gaza by Hamas terrorists, enduring inhumane conditions. Evyatar was only 23 years old, and his only “crime” was celebrating life, enjoying music and dancing at the Nova Music Festival on that tragic day. He was taken hostage along with one of his friends, and two other friends who were with him at the festival were murdered in cold blood.

I'm his older brother. I have one urgent message for you. Evyatar and all 101 hostages must return home now. The world supports us in this request. The American people have shown overwhelming support, but we cannot wait any longer as we face the possibility of regime change. These hostages, our loved ones, are being physically, sexually, and mentally tortured every day.

Nova Music Festival massacre survivor vows 'never again'

As I write these words, they are dying in Hamas' underground tunnels without air or sunlight. We know that more than half of the hostages are still alive and breathing, struggling every day to survive horrific conditions. More than half. They are parents, children, grandparents, and siblings. They are counting on us, all of us, to bring them home.

Evyatar David is being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. David was kidnapped on October 7, 2023 during the Nova Festival. (David family)

There's no more time. For the past year, my family and I have been doing everything we can to bring Evyatar home. Our biggest fear is that it was all in vain. Innocent people are being murdered after being kidnapped alive and surviving months of harsh captivity. They are waiting to be saved, but may be executed by their brutal captors instead. This is happening now. How can we hold out hope for our beloved brother's return when today's “good news” means the hostage's body has been recovered from Gaza? At least those families have some clarity and closure – we live in a time where burying a loved one has become a privilege.

Brothers Rai (left), Yaela (center), and Evyatar David (right) pose for a picture during happy family time. (David family)

The hardest part of this past year has been the uncertainty. There are so many unknowns that we end up imagining the worst. Where exactly is Evyatar? What does he eat? How does he sleep? Does he know that we are fighting with all our might to bring him back?

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I still believe it will happen. We will also see Evyatar hugging our parents. Let's play music together again. But now I live in two parallel realities. One is hope and optimism, and every mention of a deal brings possibilities. The alternate reality is filled with nothing but disappointment and despair. How many times does hope rise, only to be dashed? I can't expect anything more.

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How do we keep our hopes up and continue to believe and hope for a safe return? This is the reality that our family and many others have been facing for more than a year. Now is the time to change that reality, restore hope, and bring our loved ones to safety. Then we can embrace them again. So we can make music together again. Therefore, all hostages can be returned to their families and receive the dignity of a proper burial for those we have lost.

I love you, brother. I can't wait to go home soon.