Putin meets freed Russian Gaza hostages, says ties with Palestinians helped

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on April 16 met Russian nationals freed from captivity in the Gaza Strip, after militant group Hamas’ October 2023 attacks on Israel, and said Moscow’s longstanding ties with Palestinians helped secure their freedom.

“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,” Russian news agencies quoted Mr Putin as telling former hostage Alexander Trufanov and members of his family.

The agencies said he told the late-night Kremlin meeting: “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.”

Russia, Mr Putin said, “had truly done everything possible” to secure Mr Trufanov’s liberation and would undertake whatever was necessary to ensure those still in captivity would be freed.

Mr Trufanov was freed after nearly 500 days in captivity in February as part of talks leading to a ceasefire. He thanked Mr Putin for helping secure his release and said he hoped for the release of all remaining hostages whom he viewed “like brothers”.

The agencies said Mr Putin also presented flowers to Mr Trufanov’s mother, Ms Elena, and his fiancee, Ms Sapir Cohen, who were also among some 250 hostages seized by Hamas on Oct 7, 2023.

They were released in late 2023, as was Mr Trufanov’s grandmother. Mr Trufanov’s father was killed in the attacks.

Russia’s chief rabbi and the head of the federation of Russian Jewish communities also took part in the meeting.

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. REUTERS