Hostage Seen in New Video Released by Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Hostage Seen in New Video Released by Palestinian Islamic Jihad
A woman walks by photos of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, hang on a wall in Jaffa Street in Jerusalem on May 20, 2024. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

JERUSALEM—The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group released on Tuesday a video‮ ‬that appeared to show Israeli hostage Alexander Trufanov, 28, who was taken hostage on Oct. 7.

Similar videos have been released by Hamas, another terrorist group in Gaza. Israel has dismissed them as psychological warfare.

In a video released by the family, Mr. Trufanov’s mother said it made her happy to see her son, but “it was heartbreaking” that he had been a hostage for so long.

Efforts to achieve the release of more than 120 people taken hostage during Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel have so far fallen short.

Israel has said it cannot accept Hamas’s demand to end the war.

“The proof of life from Alexsander (Sasha) Trufanov is additional evidence that the Israeli government must give a significant mandate to the negotiating team,” said a statement from the Hostages Families Forum, which represents the families of the hostages.