INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian-Israeli Alexander Trufanov is expected to be among the first group of hostages released by the Hamas militant group this weekend,
taken to Gaza during the Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023.The attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, saw Hamas militants kill
1,200 people and abduct 251 others
devastated much of Gaza, with 46,788 people killed, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities.Qatar, a key
mediator in the conflict, announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza starting Sunday, alongside a hostage
and prisoner exchange after over 15 months of war.Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the initial 42-day
ceasefire would include the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, elderly people and those who are ill or injured
group of hostages is expected to be freed on Sunday.Russia, which has called for the release of Trufanov and another Russian-Israeli
hostage, Maxim Kharkiv, welcomed the ceasefire deal on Thursday.The Times of Israel noted that its list of hostages does not confirm their
November, urging the Israeli government to secure the release of hostages.He was abducted alongside his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, from the
Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza Strip
father, Vitaly, was killed during the Oct
7, 2023, attack.AFP contributed reporting.
