Some Future Day

Marc Beckman: [00:01:00] Ilay David, how are you today? Welcome to Some Future Day.
Ilay David: Hi, Marc. Thank you for having me.
Marc Beckman: It's great to see you today. Are you in Israel today?
Ilay David: Yes, I'm in Israel in Jerusalem.
Marc Beckman: Uh, I know you love Jerusalem. I remember you mentioned that you had moved there. What's the general sentiment now as we're approaching, you know, uh, two [00:02:00] years of, uh, of this crisis situation, of two years of, uh, hostages and, and war and terror? What's, uh, what's the sentiment in Jerusalem today?
Ilay David: I think in general the sentiment of of us Israelis and the Jewish nation is, uh. Um, confuse a lot of, uh, uh, confus and, um, uncertainty and stress. Um, it's, it's so hard when so many brothers and sisters of ours still being held captive by those murderers. Um, and to be a, a hostage family in it, it's, it's.
It's a torture. I mean, we are in a journey that we've never imagined we're going to participate in. It's, um, at the beginning we thought it's going to be, [00:03:00] I don't know, a matter of days, maybe weeks. We have never imagined it's going to be that long. Um, but there is one thing that haven't changed and it's, it's faith.
Faith and hope that eventually. Will come back, hostages will come back and everything will be okay and we could go back to our normal lives.
Marc Beckman: So how do you, how do you find that fate? How do you find that hope? Is that something that it's easier for your generation? Do your parents, for example, my generation, do they still have, uh, the type of. Hope and, and fate and strength to drive through this.
Ilay David: They do. I, I think every one of us is, um, dealing with the situation a bit differently, but all of us share the same faith and the same hope. I know, like I know not only believe, I know I [00:04:00] manifest the day that Evyatar returns. Um, and I know my parents do the same. I know my sister, uh, is doing the same and it's like, you know what we saw?
In the last video when we saw, since, since day one, when we saw him, when we saw that he's alive, we saw that theta is alive on October the seventh. We understand that he's kidnapped and it was horrible and it crushed our world, but we understood Evyatar is alive and that what gives us the strength to continue because we know that he survives.
And we saw on the last video, we also, we could see into his eyes, we could see that the only thing that holds him is faith. We know that he manifest the same things that we manifest. It's something cosmic and it's like we cannot give up. We will fight. I will fight for my brother until my last breath. I know my, my parents will do the same.
Marc Beckman: I know, I know you [00:05:00] will. And I can't wait until that day where the two of you and, and your sister and the rest of your family are together again. I feel like it's gonna be soon. I feel like it's imminent. The talks are going, uh, again, I realize that the talks, there are always these moments where we're hopeful and.
Things are shining in a positive light, but I just feel it. I feel like it's imminent. Ever since I had a meeting with you and your sister in New York City, I felt, uh, like this energy, this positive energy. I feel good about it. I look forward to the day, uh, when I meet your brother. I'm looking forward to that day coming.
But you know, one thing that we spoke about with regards to your brother. Your younger brother is what a fantastic human being he is. I know that your family is really, you know, very impressive. Each person individually, you shared their backgrounds, but your brother in particular is very impressive. Um, I know first, for example, you mentioned, uh, his love for music as a, as an artist himself.[00:06:00]
Tell me a little bit about your brother. What, what's, uh, like what was his music capabilities, what type of music was his favorite?
Ilay David: I think that was very. Um, he was doing a mess everywhere when we, when he were a, a kid, a young kid, and he was very young. Um, he is four years younger than I. Um, and we were always together. We, um, we had the same hobbies, we had the same, we shared the same interests. Um, we, we were going to the same after glasses and vital.
I remember it like it was yesterday. He came to my parents and he said, I wanna learn, uh, to hit the drums. And he was so, such a hyperactive, uh, kid. Um, it was impossible to bring drums, blah apartment if we wanna, you know, [00:07:00] stay in good relations with our neighbors. So, um. Uh, they, they started to negotiate and eventually they said to him that he's going to learn, play the guitar.
And he said, okay, I'm going to play the guitar, but it's gonna be electric guitar nonetheless. Um, yeah. And in that time it was about 10, I think, and he started to listen to Metal and Hard Rock. Um,
Marc Beckman: A
Ilay David: and I think, yes, and I think
Marc Beckman: turned him on? How did he discover, like what kind of rock and what kind of metal? Like who was he listening to? A 10.
Ilay David: I think it was, um, uh, a fan sevenfold, three days gr three day days, grace. Um, um, it had, um, of course the, the classic ones, A, C, D, C, counts and roses. Um.
Marc Beckman: So he is a Guns N Roses fan. Is this your influence or he just discovered it on his own [00:08:00] at 10.
Ilay David: I think his friends did a job. He has a very good friend that's also a hostage now gal. Um, they're the same age. They're friends since forever. They're best friends. Um, and I think it was him that, uh, um, brought theta to this world. Um, both of them by the way. The guitar and Evyatar also has a really good voice.
That's something we discovered only when he, um, uh, matured. And every week we had, we, we had this, I played the piano, not as good that as he plays the guitar, but also playing. We, um, every week at my parents, we were playing on Friday nights playing music, singing. Um, to be honest, I really, I really miss his voice.
I mean, his voice was so. Stable and, um, pleasant to the ear.
[00:09:00] he's very, very musical. He's a very good musical ear and hearing, um, he was very talented, very, very talented. And he also told me the last time we like really spoke about it. He told me that he wanna study, uh, music production to take it to the next level.
Um, was also into. Raves and celebrations. And although he is very shy, I mean, it's, I think it's part of his complex, uh, character that he's [00:10:00] very shy, but he's also, he loves to dance and going to, to parties and festivals. Um, and he is part of this beautiful community to the Nova Community is a beautiful community with amazing people from all over the world.
Um. And he's also, I think, a listener. He's a very good listener. And that's something I wish I had a friend like, because he's, he's, he's always there. You always know that he is there. He became, Alto was a very hyperactive when he was, uh, young, but when he got maturity, he became more, much more calm.
Everything's under control, like chilling. Uh, no hurry, no rush. Never in a rush. Um, this sensation?
Marc Beckman: beyond his years? Like it sounds like he had like an, he has an older soul.
Ilay David: I don't think, uh, that's the thing. I think he is just, [00:11:00] um, it's a very good question. You know, I think he is just, there's something very kind about him. Very kind, very modest. I think it comes from them. His modesty is very good. He's a very good son to my parents, for example, um, he was like, when he grew up, he was a mess, a complete mess. really, I mean, me and him, we did, uh, pagan, we we say in Hebrew everywhere. Um, which is a very big mess. Um, and it was very annoying, but something really changed. Took him to the, to, to death. Sec to the other side of the scale, I became much more sensitive and, um, modest and calm and also very sensitive to my parents.
He is always there. He lives with them. He takes care of them. He always there to say goodnight and good morning, uh, to give them a hug. He's very supportive of them, and I actually [00:12:00] learned.
Marc Beckman: how intelligent is he? Like I know your family has, uh, it seems like everyone you told me about and I met you and your sister, and everybody's very intelligent in different ways. Some more academic and scientific, others more natural, like was your brother also is, is your brother very, um, uh, intelligent?
Ilay David: Um, I think he is, but in a different way. He has the best musical skills, musical intelligence, um. Because he is not like, I'm more into science and technology, and I know that he has a vast knowledge about many things, but I know that what is in his interest is, is just making music, having fun. But I mean, he's still very young.
He's like 24 and he wanna travel the world and discover the world and, and explore things. Um,
Marc Beckman: He's 24 now,
Ilay David: yeah, now he's 24.
Marc Beckman: he was 22 then, uh, when Nova and who was at Nova. [00:13:00] And, and, um, you mentioned Guy as his best friend for life. So is your brother a very loyal person?
Ilay David: I think so. Yes. I really think so. That's what I've heard from all of his friends and I got to know all of his friends since October the seventh. And the story is kind of the same everywhere. He is the most loyal friend. He is the, he is the listener of the group. He is always there for them. And I think.
Being such a kind soul, that's what makes him right now the perfect victim, single for guy. To be honest, both of them, they're so kind, so sweet, such sweet kids. It makes them very, very vulnerable,
Marc Beckman: So, um, when you use the words perfect victim for your brother and for guy, what do you mean? What's a perfect victim?
Ilay David: I think. Um. At a situation where they are right now, [00:14:00] um, the, the, the people who are guarding them are, um, they can be abusive and cruel, and we have evidence that they are abusive and cruel yeah, and he just wanna survive. Okay, you just wanna survive. You don't wanna hurt anybody. And. He will, anything, they'll ask him, uh, only only for him to stay alive.
That's, that's why I think that he was chosen to be stabbed to this point. They use them in their propaganda and they starve him to a point where he can don it. So, um, it's not only because they're cruel and abusive, it's also because he is very vulnerable. Um. Same. I think same happened when they brought a veterinarian guy out on February to watch other hostages being released.
It also was some kind of, uh, torture, [00:15:00] um, emotional torture. Um, and not every hostage experienced it. So when I asked myself why them, I get my answer, um, because they're so current.
Marc Beckman: That's interesting. So, uh, you see then there's a very clear division between the, um, evil, uh, world of Hamas versus what your brother and guy have been put through. I mean, you mentioned, uh, it was February when, when, uh, guy and your brother were, were brought out in the car to see, um, some of their, uh.
Hostages. Well, some of their, um, some of the Israeli hostages being freed right on the stage paraded out, like as if it was a circus. Um, I remember that moment very clearly. The two of them sitting in the back of that car. I mean, that was a horrible, horrific situation. What, when you saw that image, what, what were you, like, [00:16:00] what went through your mind?
Ilay David: It was, I mean, it was cosmic. I was sitting when it happened. I was sitting in a conference in Washington, DC. President Trump was just about to give a speech on stage, and I was like third or fourth row from the stage with other hostage families and captivity survivors. And right next to me was gal, which is guy's older brother.
So both of us came there to advocate for our brothers, but we had no idea that they're being held together, for example. Um. With no idea. This video is coming out and we're sitting right next to each other when this video is coming out on Telegram, and we watch it together and imagine the situation, there are like 3000 people in the, in the, in the hall, in this, um, um, room, very big room.
And um, Trump was about to give a speech, [00:17:00] so you cannot go out or go in. It's like you're stuck in there and there's that video on your phone. My phone is exploding from messages and phone calls, you know, 'cause everyone in Israel, back in Israel, they see this video and they wanna talk to me. Um, and it was crazy.
We saw it together at the beginning, muted, um, after the, um, speech. We saw it again on sound. And we also, um, let everyone around us to, to, to watch. There were a bunch of White House people. Around us. Um, and we were for maybe for the first watch, I was happy. I saw Vita Alive after a year and four months. We saw him on October, December.
We have no idea what is going on with him for a year and four months. We had only believe and. [00:18:00] Seeing him, seeing him alive, speaking, I, I didn't hear his voice for so for so long. I didn't see his eyes for so long. To see him with Guy, his friend, we said, that's amazing. They, it's a miracle they protected each other.
Um, but then slowly we understood the situation, understood that they were emotionally tortured In this video, it wasn't for fun. Um.
We saw that they are exhausted. We saw that they are so thin in their faces that they are pale. Um, and then came the testimonies, which were very, very bad. Um, 'cause we, until that point we had some kind of an illusion how their lives looked like. We, we believe that they are being treated. You know, uh, on a basic level with humanity.[00:19:00]
Um, and when we heard the testimonies, this illusion was shattered and understood. Um, it's much more lost than we thought.
Marc Beckman: So when you talk about the testimony you're talking about that, um, now that video that's ingrained in all of our minds, the video of him in the tunnel, uh, digging his own grave and explaining what he eats and writing on the wall, that that. Video came out. How much longer, how much, how much longer in time did that come out after the, uh, the first video?
Ilay David: So it took, um, half a year and in that half a year. Actually when the hostages released that stayed with the Vietnam and Guy, um, came to Israel, they came running to my parents. They were, they became, uh, one unit in, in this dungeon, all four of them. It was guy and Ham and, and they protected each other.
[00:20:00] They really became family. And they spoke about, they told us about, actually about the, the, the tunnel we saw. On the video from August, um, same tunnel. Like they, uh, when I asked DOMA if he recognized something in this chamber, he said, of course, those are my pants. This is my spoon. This is my pla. I mean, he could, he lived there for so, so many days.
Um, and they told us about this three, three and a half feet wide, um, OT tunnel. With, um, on a 30 feet long. Um, uh, and in the end there's an iron door where the terrorists are, um, living. Um, and they just had themselves and that's it. And they had a pit, they dug a pit for, for the needs, and they eat and sleep right next to it on, on filthy [00:21:00] mattresses.
So j just, I mean, I try to imagine the stench sometimes the smelts. It's, it's horrible. And they have no stimulus, which is also something that can drive a man crazy. Nothing to read, nothing to play with. You only have each other. Um, the, and, and add to that, the starvation, the intentional starvation, um, the lack of fresh water, fresh air, sunlight, um, the lack of, um, of. When, when there's when, um, usually they had lights, uh, um, a light bulb that is on 24 hours, 24 7. Um, so it's also very confusing. And when the light goes off, it's complete darkness, complete. You cannot, you can taste the darkness. You can, you cannot see [00:22:00] your hands in front of your face. Um. So it's a very, very cruel place.
And add to that, the fact that they have abusive capital, they just enjoy doing cruel stuff to them. Uh, like, um, um, beating them if they, if they like, uh, to do so. Throwing on them the food and water when they, and when they get it every 24 to 48 hours. Um. They were treated as, as, as, not as human beings, but as, as, as animals or, or something lower than that.
Um, and I mean, I can't understand how a human being can do it to another human being.
Marc Beckman: Me ask you about that because as you're talking, I'm thinking to myself like, what, like from your perspective, what, what do you think Hamas is? What do you think Hamas and the people who are members of Hamas [00:23:00] are? Like, is it just an evil force? Is this like, do you believe that these people are just inherently evil?
And they'll always be like this? Like, what, what do you, you must have given us some thought. I mean, what you're talking about is, is beyond words, but what do you think it is?
Ilay David: Think it's, um, radicalism. They are extremists. Um, they have
very radical Islamic jihad, um, narrative. So they. They probably see my brother as a soldier, although he is not a soldier. They see all the young man as, uh, soldiers. Um, so they treat him like a soldier who I don't know, may have hurted, uh, one of their siblings. Okay. If, if I try to think like them and they don't care about human life so much, um, they [00:24:00] were even.
Bragging about stealing the food from their own people or, um, they were loudly enjoying the food so that the hostages will hear and suffer more. I, it's, I don't know. I mean, this psychology of this incident is probably very, very interesting in, in a bit of a twisted way. Um, and, but I do think that right now we are fighting an evil force.
Um. Those people who are spitting in the face of Western values, um, they don't care about human lives at all. They don't care about their own people. Um, and, and the hostages are the only, uh, insurance right now, which is the, the, um, that's why things are so complex.
Marc Beckman: Right. I was gonna ask you, so it, do you think that this is, um, a war where it's evil, uh, this [00:25:00] radical type of mentality that you're. About, and it's isolated to the, um, 20 living hostages, the 40 hostages total. Or do you think that, let's say today, God be willing, your brother and the other, um, hostages are released.
Do you think that this type of evil force continues forward beyond today?
Ilay David: Passage will be released,
Marc Beckman: Correct. Yeah.
Ilay David: I think. I think so. Yeah. I believe it's, um,
this, this, it is a very big problem, Israel. It is a very big problem to the Jewish people and to the western world, to western values, um, to liberalism. Um, I think that we'll have to do something about it when, um. I mean those kill those people. Will, will love to continue and kill Jews. Um, no matter how many deals you'll do with them, they will do a [00:26:00] deal.
Only if they'll think that they are still will be able to kill Jews. That's why I think that's what I think.
Marc Beckman: So, so then in your mind, do you think that there was, um, it was a mistake by the Israeli government, you think these. Israeli government should have emptied all of the prisons from the hostage, the terrorists that they had traded thousands and thousands of, um, you know, Hamas terrorists for every single hostage on day one. Would it have been the same difference?
Ilay David: I don't know. Um. I know that I will give my life for my brother. I know that everyone will give their own lives for, for their siblings. That's what I do. That's what I do to, to my, when I have kids. I'll do the same for them because that's what you do for your loved ones.
Marc Beckman: true.
Ilay David: and I do know that also, um. [00:27:00] At the end, the, the Israeli government and the Israeli military, they had, um, a blind spot.
And now they have to take the responsibility to bring back our brothers and sisters. Those guys, they are, um, this, this, um, value of, uh, redeeming. The captive is such, such a core value of the, uh, Jewish soul of the Jewish nation. Um. So that, and now they have no choice. They won't say it out loud. I think they'll never sacrifice the hostages.
That's what what I'm trying to say. Um, but they cannot say it out loud because it'll harm negotiations. So, but I do think it's like what drives them now, um, to make this deal with, with the president and so on.
Marc Beckman: So, so your, um, your brother lost, I think it's like 50% of his, uh, weight now. I think he's like, what, down to like less than a hundred pounds? I, I heard, um, I mean the, the torture and the, the [00:28:00] level of evil is just. Mind blowing. Um, and, and if we look at Hamas as an evil entity, what about all these other entities?
Like has your family heard that? Like Red Cross for example, has gone in to check on your brother? Are the, uh, are there any outside entities like the United Nations going in and making sure that your brother is, uh, fed, is receiving any food, let alone proper nutrition? Have you heard of anything like that?
Ilay David: We. We tried to make it happen. We spoke with whoever we can. Uh, in those organizations, they always say they wanna do it. Hamas doesn't allow to anyone to enter. I think they're not being pushed enough. If KA out Turkey, um, will have that phone call to Hamas leaders, then someone will visit the hostages. So I see.
Um. That the, the Arab [00:29:00] leaders have the responsibility to make sure that the, the, um, hostages will be treated.
Marc Beckman: Red Cross was there though that that incident where your brother was tortured and. Watching the other hostages being released wasn't Red Cross collecting those hostages at that moment,
Ilay David: That's correct. Yeah. They were like 10 feet. From each other. Red Cross had no idea. That's what they claim. Um, my, my, my mom and guy's mom, they've met with the Red Cross President in Geneva, um, a week after, uh, the video of the, and they again, they said, I wish we could do something, but we've lost so many men in, in this, um, ordeal.
And again, they say our hands are tied. We cannot do, we can't do nothing because they're not allowing, I dunno. I [00:30:00] dunno. I think again, the, the pressure, it's very convenient to push those organizations, but I think they. They're not relevant enough and we need to push, um, the Arab leaders to do something about, about it to make sure that hostages will survive and that should be a demand until the point, uh, the hostages will be released.
And that has to be brokered by the arc by the Arab countries until the point we could release the hostages. They must be preserved, they must be alive. They must be well treated. They must be visited, uh, by a doctor, an outside doctor. That could happen, um, I believe very, very soon if an agreement will be signed.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, but these organizations like, what about the United Nations? Didn't you go and speak in front of the, did you speak in front of the security council?
Ilay David: Yes. Yes.
Marc Beckman: I mean, so which nations are in the UN Security Council these [00:31:00] days?
Ilay David: Um. The US of course, in Argent, uh, Argentina, which are the greatest allies, um, right now in the Council Israel that
Marc Beckman: amazing.
Ilay David: it is. And, um, there's so many others which don't like Israel so much, like Pakistan, um, Algeria, um, and, and, and a bunch more. And there are some neutral. Um, uh, delegations there, but I think at the very end, the UN is just easy and relevant like it used to be.
It's, it's a political stage. It's a place for leaders to come, give those speeches, um, uh, collect, uh, whatever they can collect from the voters, um, to show some things to the other nations. I don't think it really has like true, um, influence on, on what [00:32:00] hap what is really happening on reality. It's, it's, it's more of a political game by now,
Marc Beckman: but do you think the people sitting on the security council from all over the world care about humanity?
Ilay David: I think. I think they do. Maybe they're too naive or they just lack their jobs, but. You know what, maybe it's more complex than that. Maybe some of them do, some of them doesn't. Um, I know that, uh, some of the things that people say out loud and in the media and in, in, in conferences are not always the same things that they say in, in closed doors.
Uh, that's maybe one of the biggest lessons I've heard I've, I've learned in this journey. So I believe same goes for the, for the un.
Marc Beckman: like what, what have you seen firsthand? Like when, when have you seen, um, an individual speaking publicly, perhaps in defense of Hamas, uh, against Israel [00:33:00] versus enclosed doors where they speak favorably about, you know, your brother, the other hostages Jews around the world?
Ilay David: That's actually, that's what the Israeli delegation to the UN told me they say. What you see now is a show you're going to hear things that you wouldn't like. Um, and, and, and tough things to hear as, as, as a Jew, as a, a supporter of the, um, liberal free world. Um, and then I've heard those things. I try to listen and, um, they say to me, usually they don't speak like that.
Behind closed doors. They don't speak like that to each other. It's, uh, so again, I dunno who to believe to, but
Marc Beckman: What's the difference? What's the difference? Right. Until you see action and results, it's irrelevant. Right?
Ilay David: exactly. But that, that's the thing. I think the UN is just not [00:34:00] relevant as it used to be. So do whatever they want. Say whatever you want, say whatever you want behind
Marc Beckman: Look, they have such a history of being antisemitic. It goes back way before October 7th. It's the years and years and years. It's a farcical entity. It's, it's incompetent, it's impotent, it's ridiculous, right? That's just the bottom line. there are other entities that perhaps are more powerful, more effective, more in your corner. Um, I know that you were, you've mentioned you spent some time with President Trump. I, I know that recently you were in the Oval Office, um, and, and sat down with him. So how effective, like, why do you need to lean on the American government?
Is, is, uh, do you find that President Trump is more effective than the Biden administration? Do you find that President Trump has been more powerful? Uh, more potent, uh, as it relates to helping the hostages and the hostage families than even BB Netanyahu.
Ilay David: First I see. I try to be the most effective as I [00:35:00] can, and I see that the American and the ministry is one to trust. Um, the president of the United States is the most important player in this game. Um, 'cause of his influence on, on the, on the area. Um, I think President Biden could do more. Much more, to be honest.
I, I do grateful for what he did because he did, um, he did brought a deal that saved more than 100 hostages at the beginning of the war. He did, made the, um, guidelines for the second deal that happened when Trump was elected. Um, so I am grateful for what happened, but I think he could. He could have chosen a different strategy.
He could have, uh, meet more hostage families. Um, he could be more empathetic to us. He could be [00:36:00] more supportive of Israel. I think that, uh, I mean he could do things better and uh, maybe some of his political interests uh, confused him. And now I see an American administrator that is fighting like crazy.
They are determined. They're brave. Um, and they are willing to do a lot in order to bring back all hostages, all of them, not only pots. And, um, I have like, it's, it's amazing. I, I'm, I have met so many American officials since Trump was elected. It's, it's unbelievable. I've met more than every other American citizen probably have met.
So it's, it's, and it says a lot. It says a lot.
Marc Beckman: What do you think it is about the Americans then? Do you think it's, uh, just human nature or do you think there's like a financial interest with Israel? Is it about democracy? Why, why does America care so much about Israel?
Ilay David: [00:37:00] I think those are the shared values because, um, there are many reasons to, to be partners, right? Uh, it can be interest like, like they have with Qatar. With Israel, I really believe it's, it's, it's history. It goes, uh, very back in history. Um, and it's, it's the shared values. It's because Israel is, is the only democracy in the area.
Um, I think that also the, the, um, Christian world and the Jewish world has a lot in common modern people, what people think. Um. Also because I think there are many good Jewish people, um, which are, um, connected with the, the American government. Um, but that goes for, for, I think, [00:38:00] um, it doesn't matter if it's a Republican government or Democratic one.
Um, and I, I don't wanna sound like the Jewish people are taking control of America because it's not right. But I met with amazing people, really, um, people.
Marc Beckman: You know, some people would argue that Israel and the Jewish people are taking over the, taking over the American government, but other. Might say that it's Qatar. You mentioned the Arab nations quite a bit. I'm curious, like in your opinion, do you think Qatar has more knowledge about your brother's safety, the wellbeing of all of the hostages?
Do you think Qatar has more influence than America to get the deal done? Um, what's Qatar's role in all of this?
Ilay David: I think Qatar have a lot of responsibility. Um, they are the one to host cost leadership, [00:39:00] and it doesn't matter how much they try to give excuses for that and how much they try to be. The brokers of the Middle East and whatever. Um, at the very end they gave Hamas leadership shelter. Um, those people should be illegal and, uh, behind bars,
and
I think we should put more light in their responsibility. And another proof for that is, uh, the release of Idan Alexander. They just, you know, they, they brought him out free just to show President Trump they, that they can do it. And they did it. They did it. And we try, when we try to confront, um, um, Kaile officials about it, they say, no, it's, it's a, it's a Hamas, they decided to do it.
[00:40:00] We have no influence. But I mean, it's. They, of course they lie.
Marc Beckman: What about the allegations of genocide? Like what's your opinion on, you know, how right now the world's turned upside down and they're saying that Israel is committing genocide on the, you know, the people in Gaza. What's your, what's your opinion on that situation?
Ilay David: I think it's a, it's a political argument. They, I dunno. Exactly why they do it. Um, but here's what I do know. When Israel imagine the world collapses because Hamas is launching a starvation campaign or because, uh, leaders are speaking about the genocide or because, um, uh, leaders a nations are declaring a Palestinian state, its influence on negotiations is bad.
It breaks negotiations every time, every time. And we saw it a [00:41:00] dozen times in those two years. Um, never the opposite. Never. It's always a bad influence on the hostages. It's always bad influence on the law and Gaza. So, um, I'm not sure why they do it and I'm not trying to
Marc Beckman: Well there, you know, clearly there's like a, a very strong propaganda war coming across the planet as it relates to, um, I think a religious war, right? I think it is, uh, Islam versus Christianity and Judaism, and I think the Jews are not good at, uh, marketing. Right. To put it bluntly, I think they're really losing the, the PR war on several fronts and, uh, the younger generation is maybe in some cases the antisemitism was there and it's unlocked.
But I think they're really learning a lot. So, you know, as a young man in his twenties, are you concerned about this hatred of Jewish people on a global scale for years to come?
Ilay David: Of course, of course, of course. We have to make [00:42:00] sure. We stick together. One of our biggest problem as Jewish people is that we tend to be divided and we have to stay united because so many radical groups wanna erase us from the earth. Um, and it doesn't matter if you are reform or um, orthodox or ultra orthodox or conservative.
It doesn't matter if you are Jewish. Um. You, you are in some ways a devil, you should be purged. Um, and that's so sad that that's our reason to be united. But, but we have to, we have to remember this and hopefully my generation and the next generation will have the, the strength and the wisdom to make things different.
I mean, I'll try whatever I can after Theile comes back.
Marc Beckman: Yeah, I mean, we're in a, a, a a time period right now that is the most holy of [00:43:00] days for Jews around the world. We're in between, as we speak today, Rosh Hashanah and uh, Yom Kippur. I'm curious, uh, since. Your, your brother was taken hostage and you know your friends too, I'm sure Guy is your friend as well, and, and other people.
Now, um, have you found religion? Are you closer to religion? Uh, do you have more faith or have you, um, maybe, uh, become a little bit less religious as a result of this, uh, situation?
Ilay David: Uh, it's complicated. I have a very complicated, uh, relationship now with, um, with God. I, I find it almost absurd to, to believe in God in this crazy painful world. I mean, how is it, how is it even possible that my sweet, sweet kid [00:44:00] brother was kidnapped and that he's tortured for so long? Um, how is that even possible with the world, with, with, with God, right?
Um, so I find it very, very hard to believe. But um, there is another voice in my hand, in my head, which is always pushing me to pray. To hope, um, to, to have faith. I know that Evyatar and the others in the tunnels, I know that they, they have faith. I know that. 'cause if they didn't have faith, they would just, they would die.
That's what, by the way, doctors said to us after seeing the videos, the video on, on, on August, they said, in a Evyatar's condition right now in your brother's condition, he cannot survive for a few more days. So the only reason he survives is fate. Because he knows that he's going to, to make it. Um, so, and also I, I pray, [00:45:00] I really pray that our leaders will have the, the strength, the wisdom to make the moral choices, to make the right choices.
Uh, so. You know, I have this community in my head speaking with me. Um, I don't, I don't wanna sound crazy, but you know, I have those two voices all the time, so it's really complicated.
Marc Beckman: you're not crazy. I mean, I can't even imagine, uh, what, what you've been going through for the past two years. Mentally, intellectually, you and, and your family and your loved ones. I can't even imagine it. So if you were gonna speak out, uh, if you were gonna say something to President Trump today, what would you say? If you're gonna send President Trump a message on this show today, what's the message?
Ilay David: I wanna thank him first for being. So brave, um, and strong and, and making the hostages first priority. [00:46:00] Making my brother and our loved ones first priority. Um, he also made the promise to us. He made the promise to us that he will bring the hostages and I know how determined he is. Um, so he gotta, he gotta do it.
He just gotta do it. Um. It's really important for me that he will also make sure that the hostages will survive this period of time. And not only by threats. I know that President Trump like to, to, um, we have to be, um, we have to use more tools in order to make sure that the hostages will get proper food, but proper medical care.
I know that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has tried. Um, walk on something regarding, regarding that. Um, because they may not have the, the time to survive this, we don't know when is going to be a deal [00:47:00] signed. We don't know even if a deal will sign, will be signed. We don't know if all the hostages will come back. I pray that all of them will come back and, and together, but we dunno.
So we have to make sure until the point all of them are being released. They must be fed, they must be taken care of
Marc Beckman: What about, um, Israel's leader, uh, Bibi Netanyahu? If you were gonna leave a message for him on the show, what would you, what would you ask Bibi?
Ilay David: That I know it's, it's his responsibility to bring back my father, and I know that he's not escaping from it. I know that he's willing to do. A to bring him back, to bring the hostages back, and I count on him. I have no other choice. Me and all the citizens of Israel and all the Jewish nation, we are counting on the Prime Minister to bring back the hostages as soon as possible.
Safe and sound.
Marc Beckman: [00:48:00] Ilay, each of my, um, guests ends the show the same way I lead, um, with the name of the show, Some Future Day, and then they finish the sentence. Um, are you game for that?
Ilay David: Let's do it, my honor.
Marc Beckman: in some future day when you and your brother are reunited? You will.
Ilay David: We will go visiting all the beautiful communities. And amazing people that took part in this crazy, crazy journey and we're gonna do a lot of fun together.
Marc Beckman: I love that. Is there anything else that you want to add today that we haven't covered that you think is important?
Ilay David: Um, no, I think we've touched it all. I hope that someday you could hear the guitar play because he wanted people, you know, because he wanted to share his music. I really want this to happen. In the future as [00:49:00] well.
Marc Beckman: I would love that. What are his, uh, like if you can mention quickly, like, I know when he was 10, he was already listening to A CDC and Guns N Roses, but today, what is, what does he love? What's his favorite band today?
Ilay David: Wow. That's a tough one. I dunno if you have, uh, um, a favorite one. But I know that his, um, that his, um, music taste is much more vast. He can hear everything, um, from, um. Mediterranean music to, uh, progressive rock and also, uh, hip hop, black music. Um, he is really into many, many things. Also trance music and tech now, which he likes to dance, but also to listen to.
Marc Beckman: Cool. All right. Well thank you so much for joining me, um, today and, you know, obviously love you and your family and I only wish, uh, that you're reunited today, literally now.
Ilay David: Thank you. We love you as well. Thank you very, very much.
[00:50:00] [00:51:00]