'I can breathe again' says Israeli hostage held for nearly 500 days in Gaza

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete January 29, 2026 at 05:25 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Sasha Troufanov, a former Israeli hostage held in Gaza for 498 days after being captured on October 7, 2023, says he and other released captives can now begin to rebuild their lives following the return of Ran Gvili's body. Troufanov, along with his fiancée and family members, were taken hostage by Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunmen during an attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. While the women were released after 50 days, Troufanov was freed a year later, only to learn his father had been murdered during the initial attack. He recounts being beaten, stabbed, and shot during his capture and receiving minimal medical treatment while in Gaza. Troufanov says the return of the final hostage's body brings a sense of closure after a long wait.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

London 40% BBC News 40% Vitaly Troufanov 50% Kibbutz Nir Oz 50% Sapir Cohen ×260% Ran Gvili ×260% Israel 60% Palestinian Islamic Jihad 70% Gaza ×680% Sasha Troufanov ×690%

Keywords

israeli hostage 100% gaza 90% captivity 80% sasha troufanov 80% hostage release 70% palestinian gunmen 60% kibbutz nir oz 50% trauma 50% ran gvili 40%