Islamic Jihad released on Wednesday a several-minute video of hostage Sasha Trufanov , who has been held captive in Gaza for 404 days. Trufanov marked his 29th birthday this week, his second birthday he has spent in captivity. The video is part of the terrorists' psychological terror against Israelis and Trufanov's family and it is clear that much of what he says has been dictated by the terrorists.
Hours after receiving the video, the family authorized its public release.
3rd video of Sasha Trufanov released by Islamic Jihad
In the video released on Wednesday, more than 13 months after the October 7, 2023 massacre, Sasha addresses his family and talks about the difficulty of the long time in captivity.
"A year that I have been here in captivity, a year in which there is a shortage of food and water, no electricity. Now even basic hygiene products, such as soap and shampoo, have run out. I have a skin problem that did not exist before because of this situation. I want to remind the citizens of Israel, every time you eat something or drink something, remember us hostages, we don't have this opportunity to enjoy the food and water you eat or drink," he said.
It is clear that the video was filmed recently, although it is not certain exactly what day.
He speaks of himself as a "prisoner" and also referred to the suffering of the citizens in Gaza. "When you make it difficult for them, you also make it difficult for us," he said.
He turns to the citizens of Israel and said: "Please, please, don't forget about us. I am asking you, citizens of Israel, please, please, go out, do it and demonstrate. I want to thank you for the demonstrations you held every week on Saturday nights, but I also want to tell you, that you’ve been protesting for a year, and the government truly doesn’t care. The proof is, here we are, still here. Now, after a year of war here in Gaza, the government has moved on to Lebanon, as if to make people forget about us, and they have also opened war with Iran, as if to bury us deep in the ground and completely forget about us."
He turns directly to the citizens of Israel, saying: "Please, please, don't forget about us. I am asking you, citizens of Israel, please, please, go out and demonstrate. I want to thank you for the demonstrations you do every week on Saturday evenings, but I also want to tell you, a whole year you have demonstrated and the government doesn't really care."
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Sasha Trufanov in new phsychological terror video and sign of life released by Islamic Jihad
( Photo: Screenshot)
The hostage also talked about missing his family. "We are here in Gaza, in daily danger, in a difficult situation. Please, please, act and do everything possible so that you can bring us home safe and sound. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my life, I miss my freedom. I miss so many things. I want to come home safe and sound. This can only be done through the pressure you put on the government, and please don't forget us," he said.
Trufanov's upper body is all that is seen in the video. On May 28, and also two days later, the terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip released videos of Trufanov from captivity. Sasha, who has Russian citizenship, was abducted on October 7 along with his mother Yelena, his grandmother Irena Tati, and his friend Sapir Cohen from the family home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The three women were released in the hostage deal at the end of November, after 54 and 55 days in captivity. Sasha's father, Vitali, was massacred by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
Yelena Trupanov, Sasha's mother, who approved making her son's words public, said: "I am happy to see that my son is alive and that he managed to survive the terrible conditions in captivity. However, you can see the despair and hopelessness in his face and I am very worried about his health. I want to address you Sasha first, my beloved son; I ask you to continue to be strong and hold on, we will not stop fighting for your release until you are here at home."
She also turned to the decision-makers. "Now I want to turn to everyone involved; to the government, the cabinet and the decision-makers - look at my son's face and save him, now! And to you, the people of Israel - thank you for the warm embrace, support and unceasing prayers. This is the time for us all to unite in one clear call - return everyone home, now."
Sasha and his friend Sapir, who were visiting the kibbutz at the time of the surprise attack, were abducted to Gaza along with their mother Yelena and grandmother Irena Tati. In the last message he sent to his friends before he was kidnapped, Trofanov wrote: "It's a shame I came to visit the kibbutz this weekend with Sapir."
On Tuesday, the hostage's mother, Yelena, was interviewed by Ynet. In a special interview to mark her son's second birthday in captivity, she said that "all the efforts until now have not brought any results." Yelena Trufanov said that she hopes another deal will be struck under the radar. "When there is too much talk, it's a deal that won't happen," she said.
Yelena said that her son is "a smart, good and beautiful guy, as any mother would say. We are all waiting for him to come back already. What keeps me going is faith, prayers and support from the people I meet on the street. They tell me 'our hearts are with you', we pray and remember the support."
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