Over 420 days have passed since the horrific events of October 7, 2023, a day that forever changed my family's lives. My younger brother, Evyatar David, a mere 23 years old, was abducted by Hamas terrorists while attending the Nova Music Festival. He was celebrating life, enjoying music and dancing, when his world was shattered. Two of his friends were tragically murdered, while Evyatar and another friend were taken captive, forced into the darkness of Hamas's underground tunnels in Gaza.

My name is Ilay, Evyatar's older brother. I write this with a heavy heart and a desperate plea: bring Evyatar and all the hostages home. We know that more than half are still alive, enduring unimaginable physical, sexual, and mental torture. These are mothers, fathers, children, grandparents – individuals whose lives have been brutally interrupted. They are clinging to life in unimaginable conditions, deprived of basic human needs, while their families suffer in agonizing uncertainty.

For over a year, my family has lived a nightmare. The uncertainty surrounding Evyatar's fate is a constant torment. We grapple with unanswered questions: Where is he? Is he being treated humanely? Does he even know we are fighting tirelessly for his release? The recent news of recovered bodies from Gaza, while offering closure for some families, amplifies our fears. The grim reality is that burying loved ones has become a privilege in these dark times.

I oscillate between hope and despair. Every whisper of a potential agreement brings a flicker of optimism, quickly followed by the crushing weight of disappointment when those hopes are dashed. It’s a cycle of emotional turmoil that has become unbearable. We cling to the belief that Evyatar will return, that we will play music together again, that he will embrace our parents once more. But with each passing day, the fear that this will never happen grows stronger.

Time is running out. We cannot afford to wait any longer. The world must unite and demand the immediate release of all hostages. They deserve to return to their families, to reclaim their lives. Those we have lost deserve the dignity of a proper burial. We implore everyone to remember Evyatar, to remember all the hostages, and to continue fighting for their freedom. We pray for the day when our family, and all the families affected by this tragedy, can finally find peace.