Putin expresses gratitude to Hamas for ‘humanitarian’ act of releasing Russian hostages

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the release of Russian-Israeli hostages held in Gaza was made possible due to Russia's long-standing and strong ties with the Palestinian people.

Putin made these remarks during a meeting with Alexander Trufanov, a freed Russian hostage who was released by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas during a ceasefire in Gaza.

The meeting was also attended by prominent Jewish leaders, including Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar.

“The fact that you are now free is a result of Russia’s many years of stable relations with the Palestinian people and various organizations representing them,” Putin was quoted as saying by Interfax.

Read: Hamas suspends release of Israeli hostages over ceasefire violation 

“We must express our gratitude to the leadership and the political wing of Hamas for this gesture, carried out as a humanitarian act,” he added.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which 1,200 people were reportedly killed and 251 taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a military offensive on Gaza, killing over 50,000 Palestinians and reducing much of the enclave to rubble.

During the October 7 attack, Alexander Trufanov, his mother Yelena, grandmother Irina Tati, and fiancée Sapir Cohen were taken hostage. His father, Vitaly, was killed.

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Trufanov’s mother, grandmother, and fiancee were released in November and December 2023, while he was freed in February this year.

President Putin emphasised that Russia would continue its efforts to secure similar releases in the future for those who remain in Gaza under difficult conditions.