Hamas claims it will release Russian-Israeli hostage Trufanov in the 'near future'

Musa Abu Marzouk, a top official in the Hamas terrorist organization, told the Russian media outlet Sputnik on Monday that the Russian-Israeli hostage Alexander Trufanov would be released in the “near future.” 

"One of them, Trufanov, will definitely be released in the near future. He will be released despite the fact that he is a [military] service person, but it was decided that he would be released at the first stage of the deal. This is our response to Russia's position on the Palestinian issue," Marzouk said. 

Trufanov is reportedly one of the 33 hostages who are expected to be released during the first stage of the internationally brokered hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which began last month. 

Russia maintains close ties with Hamas and has, on several occasions, hosted senior Hamas delegations in Moscow. Furthermore, Russia has developed a close military alliance with Hamas’ patron – Iran.

Trufanov was wounded and kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, during the Hamas invasion of his home in Nir Oz in southern Israel. The terrorists murdered his father Vitaly and also kidnapped his mother Yelena, grandmother Irena and girlfriend Sapir, all of whom were released during the first hostage deal in November 2023. 

In January, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov expressed concerns about Trufanov’s reportedly deteriorating health during his captivity in Gaza. 

"We hope that in the remaining few days, his health condition will not worsen," Viktorov said in an interview with the Russian TV channel Russia24. He added that "there is a firm promise from the Hamas leadership, given to the Russian side, that he will be returned alive and well."

While Russia has been critical of Israel’s military operations against Hamas, Moscow, nevertheless, welcomed the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity. 

“We welcome the release of three Israelis as part of the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas,” Viktorov said following the release of the first three hostages in January. “We hope that our compatriot Alexander Trufanov will also return home safely in the near future."

The efforts to release Trufanov have been complicated by the fact that he is reportedly held by Hamas’ ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). 

In May 2024, PIJ released a propaganda video of Trufanov in captivity from an undisclosed location in the Gaza Strip. 

“In the coming days, you will hear from me all the truth about what happened to me and all the hostages in Gaza. I ask you to have patience,” Trufanov said in the video clip. 

The forced video clip with Trufanov was met with mixed emotions from his family. 

“To see him today on television is very joyous, but also heartbreaking because he is still in captivity,” said his mother, Yelena.  

“We are waiting for you to come home already, and we’re doing everything we can for it to happen soon,” his girlfriend Sapir added. 

Looking ahead, Hamas official Marzouk said the terror group would also prioritize the release of the Russian national Maxim Herkin during the second stage of the hostage agreement. 

"The fate of Donbas native Maxim Herkin will be determined in the second phase of the agreement," Marzouk stated. Herkin was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists while attending the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.