Israeli Hostage Alexander Turbanov Did Not Praise Captors After Release

In a case of misinformation spreading across social media platforms, claims that freed Israeli-Russian hostage Alexander Trufanov praised his Hamas captors in a statement following his October 2025 release have been debunked as incorrectly attributed.

Social media posts circulated widely claiming that a man named “Alexander Turbanov” had released a statement after being freed in October 2025, expressing gratitude toward his captors. The alleged statement described his captors’ “kindness,” “humanity,” and “respect,” suggesting they treated him well during his 498 days in captivity.

“Your kindness will forever be etched on my soul,” the viral quote began, continuing with praise for his captors’ “pure bravery” and “humanity” despite the circumstances. The lengthy statement described how his captors “protected his life” and treated him with dignity even as “my government was committing the worst genocide against a besieged nation.”

However, investigations reveal multiple inaccuracies in these claims. First, the hostage in question is Alexander “Sasha” Trufanov (not Turbanov), and he was released in February 2025—eight months before the October ceasefire—according to multiple international news reports and confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces.

More significantly, the quote itself was never uttered by Trufanov. The words actually originated from Palestinian social media influencer Khaled Safi, who posted the passage in Arabic on X (formerly Twitter) in February 2025. In subsequent posts, Safi explicitly clarified that the statement was his own creation, written from what he imagined to be Trufanov’s perspective, not an actual quote from the freed hostage.

The October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas did mark a significant moment in the two-year conflict, leading to the release of the final surviving Israeli hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attacks. The agreement also included the release of Palestinian prisoners and brought a pause to fighting that had left substantial portions of Gaza devastated.

During the period between his February release and the October ceasefire, Trufanov did speak publicly on at least two occasions, according to Israeli media reports. However, his comments focused primarily on advocating for the release of remaining hostages, stating this should be prioritized over Hamas’s defeat. No evidence exists that he ever discussed the conditions of his captivity in the manner suggested by the viral quote.

In April 2025, Trufanov and his family met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who highlighted Russia’s role in securing the hostage’s release. During that meeting, Putin thanked Hamas leaders for “accommodating our request,” but reports indicate Trufanov himself did not express similar sentiments, instead continuing to advocate for other hostages still in captivity.

The spread of this fabricated quote illustrates the ongoing challenge of misinformation surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Social media platforms have been rife with false and misleading claims about hostage experiences, treatment, and statements. The misattribution of creative writing as factual statements from freed hostages creates a distorted narrative of events and can potentially influence public perception of the complex and sensitive situation.

Fact-checking organizations continue to monitor and verify claims related to the conflict, attempting to separate verified reporting from misinformation that spreads rapidly across digital platforms.