Kidnapped soldier hints at being tortured in the video A video showing the seven abducted Egyptian soldiers reading out a list of their kidnappers’ demands has been confirmed as genuine. The father of one of the abducted soldiers stressed the validity of the video, as he recognised his son Ibrahim Sobhi. Military sources told Arabstoday that the matter is being dealt with by the presidential palace and the interior ministry; the armed forces are only applying technical support. Sources added that these operations are under the jurisdiction of national security and intelligence officers, who operate a large database with information regarding terrorists and the kidnappers.
The apparent failure to protect Egypt’s soldiers has led for leading politicians to call for President Mohammed Morsi to step down from his role.
Member of the National Salvation Front, Essam Shiha, said: \"President Morsi should leave as long as he is unable to free the soldiers.\"
Shiha told Arabstoday that the release of the video has irreparably damaged the ruling Muslim Brotherhood party, as their weakness to take appropriate action has been highlighted.
Vice President of Congress Party, Mohammed Al-Orabi said the video is an \"insult to the Egyptian soldiers,\" also stating that Morsi should step down.
Orabi added that the current regime has “lost legitimacy.”
Meanwhile, Wasat Party\'s leader and former minister of state for legal affairs, Mohammed Mahsoup, has stressed the need to close the tunnels between Egypt and Gaza, saying: \"We need to end any presence of tunnels, but at the same time keep a natural border with our brothers in Gaza to ensure trade and security for both countries.\"