Richard Engel has been NBC News' chief foreign correspondent since 2008.
KFAR SABA, Israel — There was an empty chair at the Sabbath table when Evyatar David's family sat down to dinner after sundown Friday. It was the fourth time since the 22-year-old Israeli was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7 that those who love David the most had to break bread without him. And even though on this night the traditional Jewish meal was held at the home of David's uncle, the ache was the same. 'His energy is missing,' David's 18-year-old sister, Ye’ela, said.
'He's here, he's here,' David's mother insisted, growing emotional and pointing at her heart. 'He will be back.' The heartbroken family welcomed NBC News into its midst about a week after talks to free the more than 200 hostages that remain in Hamas' hands broke down. David managed to contact his tight-knit family before he was captured. Soon afterward, Hamas released propaganda video footage of David handcuffed and looking terrified.
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