Palestinian militants shot the legs of a Russian hostage

An Israeli citizen released from the Gaza Strip and Russian Alexander Trufanov was shot in both legs by militants during the kidnapping on October 7, 2023, Elena Trufanova, the mother of the freed hostage, told reporters.

"Thank God that Sasha returned healthy and whole. This is a great joy and relief. My son was shot in both legs during his abduction, and for us it is a clear miracle that he can stand and walk," Elena said during her first address to journalists since her son's release on Saturday.

Edition ch10.co.il He writes that Trufanov, as well as two other hostages released with him — 36-year-old Sagi Dekel Chen, who, in addition to Israeli, has US citizenship, and 46—year-old Yair Horn, a repatriate from Argentina - were subjected to harsh treatment, torture and interrogations about their military past.. They told about the difficult conditions of detention, lack of food, fresh air and daylight. According to them, on some days they did not receive any food or water, and sometimes they received sea water or food unsuitable for human consumption for drinking, and the situation became easier only shortly before the return to Israel.

In mid—January, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into force, at the first stage the group promised to release 33 hostages (three every Saturday), and Israel promised to release more than 1,850 Palestinians from prison.

On Saturday, February 15, Trufanov, Sagi Dekel Chen and Yair Horn returned from captivity.

All three were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on the border with the Gaza Strip during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Trufanov was taken hostage along with his grandmother Irena Tati, mother Elena and his girlfriend Sapir Cohen. The young man's father, Vitaly Trufanov, was killed. In November 2023, three women were released from captivity.