Israeli Prisoner Alexander ‘Turbanov’ Did NOT Make a Assertion About Captors’ Kindness — Improper Identify And Made-Up Quote

Did Alexander Turbanov, an Israeli man who was held prisoner by Hamas, make an announcement sympathizing along with his captors upon his launch? No, that is not true: This made-up quote went viral on Feb. 15, 2025 and resurfaced in Oct. 2025. The person in query isn’t named Turbanov, his identify is Alexander Troufanov. The quote attributed to Troufanov was posted on X by social media influencer Khaled Safi, who clarified in a follow-up put up that he wrote these phrases “on his behalf”.

The made-up quote appeared in a put up (archived right here) printed on Fb on Feb. 16, 2025 by the web page In the direction of Understanding Islam. The put up begins:

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Immediately, the Israeli prisoner Alexander Turbanov, who was launched, made an announcement that shocked the occupying Israel:

“Your kindness has been engraved in my conscience endlessly. Through the 498 days I lived amongst you, regardless of the aggression and crimes you endured, I realized the true which means of manhood, pure heroism, and respect for humanity and values.

That is what the put up appeared like on Fb on the time of writing:

Alexander Turbanov isn’t the identify of the hostage who was launched on Feb. 15, 2025. A photograph of the trade ceremony for the three hostages seems in a US Information & World Report article (archived right here) titled, “Israel and Hamas Full Their Newest Change as Ceasefire’s First Section Has Simply 2 Weeks Left”. Troufanov is pictured sporting a crimson hoodie. The picture caption reads:

Israeli hostages Iair Horn, 46, left, Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, heart left, and Alexander Troufanov, 29, proper, are escorted by Hamas and islamic Jihad fighters as they’re handed over to the Purple Cross in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Picture/Abdel Kareem Hana)

On Feb. 15, 2025 Khaled Safi @KhaledSafi made a put up (archived right here) on X in Arabic (pictured under left). The put up included an 8-second video clip exhibiting Troufanov in the identical setting because the picture above- escorted by two armed fighters. Though not an identical, the auto-translation of Safi’s put up to English (pictured under proper) follows the construction and sentiment of the quote included within the Fb put up.

Your magnificence is etched in my conscience, for throughout the 498 days I lived amongst you, I realized the true which means of manhood, pure heroism, and respect for humanity and values, regardless of the aggression and crimes you have been subjected to.
You have been the besieged but free, whereas I used to be the captive, and also you have been the guardians of my life. You cared for me like a compassionate father cares for his kids, preserving my well being, dignity, and magnificence. You didn’t enable starvation or humiliation to the touch me, though I used to be within the palms of males preventing for his or her land and their stolen rights, towards the federal government of my nation, which perpetrates essentially the most heinous genocide towards a besieged folks.

Many individuals replied to Safi asking for clarification. He responded on Feb. 15, 2025 (archived right here):

Discover and clarification: These should not the phrases of the captive, however somewhat I wrote them on his behalf, describing his situation, his gratitude, his thanks, and his bowing to the boys of the resistance.