Israel’s Ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin, revealed Thursday that Jerusalem was working with Moscow to help secure the release of three hostages held captive in Gaza who do not have Russian citizenship.
In an interview with Russian news agency RBC, Halperin reported on ongoing work to secure the release of Russian-Israeli hostage Sasha Trufanov, who is on the list of 33 hostages expected to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire.
In addition, she added, discussions also concern the hostage Maxim Herkin, originally from Ukraine, whose mother and daughter have Russian nationality, and whose release is not planned for the moment .
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“It is important to say that I am working with the Russian side to free the hostages who do not have Russian citizenship,” Halperin remarked in the interview, noting that initiatives were being taken to help “ Maxim Herkin and two other hostages, whose fate concerns Russia.”
The ambassador clarified that she would not reveal the names of the two other captives, who are not on the list of hostages initially released: “We very much hope that the Russian side will be able to provide real help in this area. I sincerely believe that if the Russian side insists, it will be able to help free these three hostages.”
During the week-long truce which took place at the end of November 2023, Hamas released, outside the framework of the agreement concluded, the Israeli of Russian origin Roni Krivoy. The terrorist group had mentioned a gesture made towards Moscow.
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