The family of kidnapped IDF soldier Matan Angrest released a new clip Monday evening showing another portion of the footage from his abduction. The footage shows a mob swarming the tank Matan was in. Bruised and wounded, he is seen in the hands of the terrorists atop the tank, who then throw him to the ground headfirst, causing him to crash onto the earth.
Testimonies from freed hostages reveal that Matan is in severe physical and mental condition, and his life is at risk. He suffers from chronic asthma and experiences shortness of breath. His asthma attacks typically follow violent interrogation sessions, including being connected to car batteries and subjected to electric shocks until he loses consciousness. According to the testimonies, in such instances, his captors remove him from the tunnels to keep him alive, until the next round of abuse.
Video: Radio transmissions and full footage of the abduction of soldier Matan Angrest // IDF Spokesperson
Matan also suffers from severe burns that reach the nerves and can no longer move some of his fingers. His hands are swollen and infected, with burns penetrating to the nerves in both hands. The conditions inside the tunnels, the dampness and humidity, prevent proper bandaging or administration of antibiotics.
The infections in his body have caused prolonged high fevers, chills, and constant pain. In addition, he has injuries to his face: one of his eyes is swollen, and there is a risk of vision loss. He also suffers from fractures in his cheekbones and lower jaw.
"For 611 days, I avoided watching the full video that shows the beginning of the lynching of my beloved son, Matan. Dozens of terrorists against one soldier," said Matan's mother, Anat Angrest. "Last night, I forced myself to watch it for the first time. We have no choice. Matan's life is in danger. This evening, we are forced to publish another part of the video for the public. I wish we didn't have to."
She said that in recent weeks the family has gathered information to better understand Matan's condition, and in meetings with former hostages, they discovered a stark contrast between what they had been told and the reality.
"We were shaken to the core - while the prime minister didn't even know that Matan was wounded, we found out that Matan suffers from open burns, infections, sepsis, and fever," Anat said. "Alongside clear testimonies about torture and electric shocks. That's why we have no choice but to show the public the horrific images. The lynching that was carried out on Matan on October 7. The story of his serious injuries that have been forgotten only because he is a soldier. Just because of that title, which should be a source of pride, our Matan has been sidelined and has not been granted the label 'humanitarian.' Matan's life is in danger. He is wounded and bleeding. He must not be abandoned (again). Forgive us, our Matan. Don't give up, because we will not give up on you."
