“You Were the Protectors of My Life”: Freed Prisoner Speaks on Kindness of Palestinian Resistance


-- By: Muhammad Isah Ramat
May 1, 2025

Gaza –
In a powerful and emotional statement that has reverberated far beyond the conflict zone, released Israeli-Russian prisoner Alexander Trufanov offered a heartfelt tribute to the compassion and dignity he received while in the custody of the Palestinian resistance.

Trufanov, who spent 498 days held in Gaza, described his experience not with bitterness or fear—but with deep gratitude and admiration for the men who held him.

"Your kindness has been engraved in my conscience forever," he said. “Despite the aggression and crimes you yourselves endured, I learned the true meaning of manhood, pure heroism, respect for humanity, and values.”

According to Trufanov, the members of the Palestinian resistance, often labeled by critics as militants or extremists, demonstrated an extraordinary level of humanity. He recalled how they treated him not as an enemy but as a human being—preserving his dignity, ensuring his health, and protecting him with the care of a father toward his child.

“You were the free ones under siege, while I was the prisoner — and you were the protectors of my life,” he said, highlighting the paradox of captivity where the captors extended compassion in a context marked by violence and suffering.

Trufanov’s words paint a complex and often overlooked picture of the resistance in Gaza. Far from the brutal caricatures drawn in mainstream narratives, his testimony reveals a side of the Palestinian fighters defined not just by struggle, but by principle, discipline, and moral conduct—even in the face of war.

“Even though I was in the hands of men fighting for their stolen land and rights,” he said, “you never allowed me to go hungry or be humiliated.”

In one of the most striking parts of his statement, Trufanov turned to the faith of his former captors. “Does your religion really teach you to treat prisoners this way? How great this faith is.”

His words have been widely circulated on social media and have stirred discussions globally about the ethics and humanity within resistance movements under occupation.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues and violence escalates, stories like Trufanov’s offer a rare and powerful glimpse into the personal encounters that defy political narratives—reminding the world that even in the darkest conflicts, human dignity can prevail.

-- Ramat Unlimited 

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