The Israeli hostage who was forced to dig his own grave in captivity had a jubilant reunion with his parents Monday as one of the 20 living hostages freed by Hamas.
Evyatar David was seen with a huge smile and his hands on his head in disbelief as he was finally returned to Israel, more than 700 days after he was snatched in the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack.
He was pictured with his arms around parents Avishai and Galia, who had previously had to endure seeing him looking skeletal as his inhumane kidnappers forced him to dig his own grave.
David’s father had told Channel 12 that his family couldn’t wait to “hug, smell, and breathe” him once he returned.
David, 24, was among the remaining living hostages who were released as part of a cease-fire agreement that will also result in the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The barbaric video of David horrified those praying for his safe return. In it, the skeletal-looking hostage said he hadn’t eaten in days — and showed the grave he had been forced to dig for himself.
“This is the grave I think I’m going to be buried in,” he said. “Time is running out.”
Israelis turned out by the thousands at one of the weekly hostage demonstrations, demanding a cease-fire in response to the stomach-turning footage.
Stay up to date on the Israel-Hamas cease-fire exchange
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- President Trump declares an ‘end of an age of terror and death’ to raucous applause in Israel’s parliament
David was initially hauled back to Gaza when Hamas terrorists stormed the Nova music festival more than two years ago.
Other images on Monday showed David could barely contain his excitement as he arrived at Beilinson Hospital in central Israel.
Israelis and Gazans across the region cheered the United States-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas as President Trump cheered the “end to an age of terror and death.”
The deal is also expected to bring back the bodies of the 28 dead hostages so they can receive proper burials.
