Hostages Released After Two Years of Captivity

Guy Gilboa Dalal and Ebiyatar David endured systematic starvation, psychological torture, and months of being buried alive in Hamas tunnels before their release on Monday.

Early Monday morning, the last of the 20 surviving Israeli hostages were freed in a historic agreement brokered by President Donald Trump. These two young men were among those whose harrowing experiences were shared in an interview with former hostage Tal Shoham.

At just 22 years old when captured on October 7, Gilboa Dalal and David emerged into the Israeli sunlight after 736 days in Hamas custody—a period marked by deliberate deprivation and abuse. Shoham recounted their experiences, specifically describing being held together in a tunnel he referred to as the “tomb,” located 20 to 30 meters underground.

Violent Capture

On October 7, 2023, they were seized from the Nova Music Festival during an unprecedented attack by Hamas, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths. Shoham, who was captured separately, mentioned that his fellow prisoners shared accounts of being bound, hooded, and brutally transported. They faced extreme hunger during the first two weeks, with very little food provided while being held in captivity.

Deprivation and Abuse

Shoham noted that about a month into captivity, Gilboa Dalal and David were brought to his location in terrible condition—hungry, handcuffed, and scared. “Their food rations were drastically reduced,” he recalled. “On a normal day, it was just a piece of pita and a small amount of cheese.” Fridays were particularly torturous, as guards feasted while the hostages were denied adequate sustenance.

Each day, they faced a ritual of humiliation, with guards slapping or punching them while mocking their suffering. Despite their circumstances, the men chose to support each other, sharing whatever little food they had.

Shifting Locations

On June 24, 2024, Hamas claimed they would be relocated to a “better location” but instead subjected the hostages to further degradation. Shoham criticized the use of Red Crescent ambulances as a cover for their abuse. They were taken through a tunnel system—something Shoham feared would lead to a fate worse than death.

Life Underground

Confined in an extremely cramped room, the hostages found themselves in what Shoham described as a “grave.” The conditions were grim, with limited air and scarce water. “We received just half a liter of water daily,” he stated, noting the overwhelming thirst. They faced the stark choice between hydration and sanitation, opting to prioritize their immediate needs.

Deliberate Starvation

Hamas’s starvation tactics aimed to create a propaganda narrative. “They openly admitted to us that they wanted us to emerge looking broken, to exert pressure on Israelis,” Shoham said. With rations often falling below 300 calories, the guards hoarded food intended for humanitarian aid, further exacerbating their suffering.

Psychological Torture

Daily torment included verbal and physical abuse. Guards manipulated their sense of time and even subjected them to smoke torture, describing moments of near suffocation. “There were times I genuinely thought I wouldn’t survive,” Shoham recounted.

Forced Propaganda

In February 2025, after a hostage deal was confirmed, the remaining hostages were manipulated into creating a propaganda video, expressing faux joy at their impending release. However, Gilboa Dalal and David were left behind as others were freed.

Final Separation and Reunification

As reported, Hamas separated Gilboa Dalal and David before their eventual release—a cruel final act after two years shared together. Upon reuniting in a hospital in Israel, they embraced for the first time since the separation.

Once back, Shoham expressed gratitude towards President Trump, attributing his freedom to the president’s actions. “I owe my life to him,” he emphasized.

A New Chapter

With the return of the last hostages, including Gilboa Dalal and David, under the agreement facilitated by Trump, he declared it as “the beginning of an era of faith and hope.” Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed appreciation for the efforts made during this harrowing ordeal.

Gilboa Dalal and David’s suffering—marked by violence, starvation, and captivity—finally came to a close, fulfilling a hope for their safe return.