Following diplomatic efforts by Moscow, Alexander Trufanov has been freed.
As part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, Hamas has released three hostages, including a Russian citizen. The released individuals were identified as Sagui Dekel-Chen (dual US-Israeli citizen), Aleksander Trufanov (dual Russian-Israeli citizen), and Yair Horn (dual Argentinian-Israeli citizen).
The IDF reported that the hostages were transferred to the IDF and ISA in Gaza and are returning to Israel for a medical evaluation.
In January, President Vladimir Putin urged Russian government agencies to secure Trufanov’s release. The following day, the Russian Ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, announced Hamas’ assurance of Trufanov’s imminent release.
Ambassador Viktorov added that Trufanov had been injured during his captivity and his condition wasn’t ideal, but that Hamas had firmly promised his safe return.
“At Russia’s request, Aleksander was included in the first group of hostages released, reflecting respect for Russia’s stance on a just Middle East settlement,” stated Dmitry Dogadkin, Russian Ambassador to Qatar.
Russia, maintaining ties with Hamas and other Middle Eastern entities, acts as a mediator in conflicts involving Israeli hostages. Moscow advocates for a two-state solution as the path to resolving the long-standing Middle East crisis.
Saturday’s exchange is the latest in a series of prisoner releases under the ceasefire that began January 19. Hamas has released 21 hostages, with Israel releasing over 730 Palestinian prisoners in return. Seventy-three hostages remain in Gaza, with approximately half believed deceased.
The hostages, including Trufanov, were taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. Gaza’s health authorities report nearly 47,000 deaths in the past 15 months.
Trufanov was captured with his grandmother, mother, and girlfriend. His father was killed in the attack; the women were released in November 2023 as part of the truce.
The Trufanov family immigrated from Rostov-on-Don in the late 1990s. Before his abduction, Trufanov worked as an engineer at Annapurna Labs, an Israeli Amazon subsidiary. Amazon faced criticism for its silence on the matter.