Hamas vows to release Russian prisoner

Hamas has made a firm promise to Moscow to release Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov, who was held hostage in Gaza. The Russian ambassador to Israel noted that Trufanov is the only Russian held captive in Gaza.

The Hamas movement has made a firm promise to Moscow to release Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov, who was held hostage in Gaza, RIA Novosti reports, citing Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov.

Diplomat Trufanov stressed that he was the only Russian held captive in Gaza. Viktorov thus denied earlier press reports that another hostage, Max Harkin, had Russian citizenship.

According to the publications, Harkin's relatives came to Moscow specifically to obtain citizenship after his arrest.

Viktorov added on the air of the Rossiya-24 TV channel that Trufanov may have been injured. However, his condition is assessed as satisfactory. The ambassador estimates that the man could be released within a month.

Hamas had previously reported that Trufanov and the other hostages remaining in Gaza were Israeli soldiers and could eventually be released as part of a swap deal.