Thursday, April 17, 2025 - Russian President, Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met Russian nationals released from captivity in the Gaza strip after militant group Hamas’ October 2023 attacks on Israel.
Putin said Moscow’s longstanding ties with Palestinians
helped secure the release of the hostages.
“The fact that you are now free is a result of Russia’s many
years of stable relations with the Palestinian people, with the representatives
of different organisations.
“Here we have to offer a word of gratitude to the leadership
and to the political wing of Hamas for a gesture made to us in carrying out
this humanitarian act,” Putin said.
According to him, Russia had truly done everything possible
to secure Trufanov’s liberation and would undertake whatever was necessary to
ensure those still in captivity would be freed.
Trufanov was released after nearly 500 days in captivity in
February as part of talks leading to a ceasefire.
Trufanov thanked Putin for helping secure his release and
hoped for the release of all remaining hostages whom he viewed like brothers.
Putin also reportedly presented flowers to Trufanov’s
mother, Elena, and his fiancee, Sapir Cohen, who were also among some 250
hostages seized by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Russia has sought to maintain good ties with both sides in
the conflict, but has said a settlement in the Middle East is only possible on
the basis of a two-state solution.
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