Palestinian Islamic Jihad releases video of hostage Sasha Troufanov, family says 'no time left'

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has released a video of Israeli hostage Sasha Troufanov.

Sasha is among 101 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip. During the October 7 attacks last year, Hamas and allied terrorist groups abducted around 250 Israelis and foreign nationals and took them to Gaza as hostages.

Following the release of the video, Sasha’s mother Lena Troufanov said that while she is glad to see her child alive, there is no time left with him.

“I am relieved to see my son alive, but I am very worried to hear what he is saying. I urge that every effort be made to secure his immediate release and that of all other hostages. They have no time left,” said Lena in a statement shared by the Hostages Families Forum on X (formerly Twitter).

The Hostages Families Forum further said that as winter is coming and no deal is being signed, the chances of more hostages’ deaths are rising.

Of approximately 250 hostages taken during the October 7 attacks, Israel rescued eight, Hamas unilaterally released four, and a few dozens were released during brief ceasefire in November 2023. Out of around 100 hostages still in Gaza, the Israeli agencies have estimated that two-thirds are still alive.

In recent weeks, following the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, efforts have been renewed to strike a deal between Israel and Hamas for the end of war in Gaza and the return of hostages in lieu of the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. However, no deal has been reached so far.

Even though Sinwar had also hardened his position in months leading up to his death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s maximalist position had prevented the signing of any deal. Going against the proposal he had endorsed in May, he later inserted new demands into the proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden, such as controlling the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border and setting up checkpoints at another east-west corridor in Gaza. Hamas dubbed the conditions as a non-starter for talks.