Tamar Eshet, cousin of Hamas hostage Evyatar David, expressed her heartbreak after a recent video surfaced showing David in a distressing state. In the video, David appears emaciated and is forced to dig what he claims is his own grave in a narrow tunnel in Gaza. Eshet remarked, "The pictures take you back 80 years. But we were promised that those images of a living skeleton wouldn’t come back. The promise was: never again."

The video was released shortly after Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state. Eshet believes this political move may have emboldened Hamas, leading them to showcase the dire conditions of the hostages. She stated, "When you give (Hamas) power, when you give them a prize for their actions, then you are letting them starve the hostages."

Evyatar David, 22, was a barista who attended the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, when it was attacked by terrorists. He and his childhood friend, Guy Dalal, were among the 251 hostages taken by Hamas, which also killed approximately 1,200 people during the assault. Currently, 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with only about 20 believed to be alive.

Eshet described David as a calm individual who often provided advice to his friends. She shared that he had dreams of becoming a music producer and loved playing guitar. "He was still thinking what to study, what does he want to do with his life," she said.

During the attack, David hid with friends in bushes, witnessing the murder of two friends nearby. He was kidnapped alongside Dalal, who he has known since kindergarten. While families believe the two are being held together, Hamas does not provide regular updates on hostages.

In February, the families of David and Dalal saw another propaganda video featuring the two men. They were shown sitting in a van during a hostage handover ceremony, but after the event, they were returned to captivity in Gaza. "We hope that they are still together," Eshet said.

The recent video shows David in a severely malnourished state, marking a handmade calendar to track his meals. He indicates days when he has eaten and days when he has not. In a troubling moment, he is seen digging a hole, claiming it is for his grave.

Eshet noted that while Hamas may be attempting to portray a narrative of widespread starvation in Gaza, the families of the hostages remain skeptical. She pointed out that in the video, a well-fed arm can be seen handing David a can of lentils, suggesting that the conditions for the hostages are being manipulated for propaganda purposes. "Hamas is deliberately starving them," she said.