Fact-Check: Did Israeli-Russian Hostage Alexander Trufanov Praise Hamas, His Captors?
Claim: A viral post on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), claims that Alexander Trufanov, an Israeli-Russian citizen recently released from captivity in Gaza, made a powerful statement praising Palestinian resistance fighters and condemning the Russian government.
The alleged statement includes emotional gratitude for his captors’ kindness during his 498 days in captivity and criticizes Russia’s actions, referring to them as “the worst genocide against a besieged people.”
The statement, widely circulated, quotes Trufanov as saying:
“Even though I was in the hands of men fighting for their stolen land and rights, even while my own government was committing the worst genocide against a besieged people, you never allowed me to go hungry or be humiliated…”
Background: On October 7, 2023, Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel’s Gaza envelope, marking the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Verification: To verify the accuracy of this claim, PRNigeria’s Fact-Check team conducted an extensive digital investigation using the following methods:
Keyword and phrase searches across search engines and news databases, social media content tracking, focusing on X and Facebook, review of statements by Russian and Israeli officials and cross-referencing credible international and local media sources.
Findings revealed that Alexander Trufanov, 29, was among the hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. He was reportedly abducted along with his mother, grandmother, and girlfriend from a kibbutz, while his father was killed. Over a year later, in April 2025, Trufanov was released.
Read Also:
His return made headlines after Russian President Vladimir Putin personally welcomed him, stating: “Thank God you are alive and well and you are here.” Putin publicly thanked Hamas and emphasized Russia’s close ties with the Palestinian people.
Additionally, no mainstream or credible news outlets reported that Trufanov made any public statement praising Palestinian fighters or criticizing the Russian government.
Similarly, available video footage and media coverage only show Trufanov’s brief exchange with President Putin upon his release. There is no evidence of him speaking to the press or issuing any written or verbal statement matching the viral quote.
Media reports only revealed that Vladimir Putin met with freed Russian-Israeli hostage Sasha Troufanov, who spent nearly 500 days in captivity in Gaza, and suggested he thank his Hamas captors for releasing him, describing it as a “humanitarian act”.
Additionally, reports from Russian and international media (e.g., TASS and Al Jazeera) confirm that Trufanov’s release was highlighted as a diplomatic success, with no mention of the circulated message.
Furthermore, the supposed quote appears only on social media and cannot be traced to any verifiable source.
Conclusion: PRNigeria’s investigation found no credible evidence that Alexander Trufanov made any statement praising Palestinian resistance or criticizing the Russian government. The viral message is not supported by any mainstream or official source.
Verdict: FALSE – The claim is fabricated and lacks any factual basis.
