The release of the last hostage's body this week has brought a sense of closure for a former Israeli captive, who was held in Gaza for nearly 500 days, allowing him and other freed hostages to rebuild their lives.

Sasha Troufanov, a 30-year-old electronics engineer at Amazon, was taken hostage by Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunmen on 7 October 2023, along with his fiancée Sapir Cohen, mother, and grandmother. While the women were released after 50 days, Troufanov remained in captivity for 498 days, finally gaining his freedom a year ago.

In an interview with BBC News during a visit to London, Troufanov expressed his relief that all hostages have now been accounted for, following the return of Ran Gvili's body on Monday, stating that the long-awaited moment has finally arrived, bringing a sense of wonder.

Troufanov explained that despite his own release, he had been carrying a emotional burden, feeling that he couldn't fully move on with his life while others remained in captivity, saying "the weight of knowing our friends and family members were still being held kept us from truly escaping Gaza".

However, Monday's news was tempered by a personal sorrow for Troufanov, as it coincided with the birthday of his father, Vitaly, whom he only discovered had been murdered on 7 October 2023 after his own release in February 2025, a painful revelation that he was not able to greet him upon his freedom.

During a visit to his family's residence on Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border, Troufanov and Cohen were confronted by Palestinian gunmen who invaded their home. In an attempt to conceal herself, Cohen wrapped herself in a blanket and hid under the bed, but both she and Troufanov were taken captive. Troufanov suffered physical abuse, including being punched and stabbed in the shoulder.

Troufanov recounted the intense hostility of his attacker, describing the perpetrator's face as consumed by anger and hatred as he wielded a knife in an attempt to inflict further harm.

As the attackers attempted to remove Troufanov from the kibbutz, he briefly managed to break free, but his escape was short-lived. Upon surrendering, he was shot twice in each leg, despite no longer posing a threat.

Troufanov described the traumatic experience, stating that he felt an overwhelming surge of pain as he fell to the ground, followed by a blow to the back of his head from a terrorist's rifle, which caused a severe laceration.

Upon arrival in Gaza, Troufanov reported being subjected to further violence at the hands of civilians, prompting him to fear that his life was in imminent danger, thinking "this is the moment you're going to die".

During his time in Gaza, Troufanov had limited access to medical care. On two occasions, he was taken to different locations – a family residence and a hospital – where his broken leg received makeshift treatment, first with a wooden broom and then with a section of a metal grill.

Troufanov's experience as a hostage differed from others in that he was largely held in solitary confinement. Out of the 498 days he spent in captivity, he only encountered another hostage on two occasions.

Initially, Troufanov was detained above ground for over six weeks, confined to a cage with minimal provisions to sustain himself. He alleges that he was subjected to sexual harassment by a guard who repeatedly encouraged him to perform a sexual act on himself. Additionally, he claims that a hidden camera recorded him during his weekly shower.

Troufanov recalled, "I was aware of the camera and tried to shower in a way that would conceal my private parts, but I had no choice as I needed to maintain my personal hygiene."

After being moved to the underground tunnels, Troufanov reports that he was isolated for extended periods, with his captors only providing food before leaving him in a dark, cramped, and humid environment, where the darkness was so profound that he could not see his hand in front of him.

A sense of desperation overwhelmed me, as if I was trapped beneath the earth while still breathing. Hope was a fleeting concept, and there were moments when it seemed lost forever. In my darkest moments, I wondered if I would ever escape, thinking that my time was running out.

For the first time in nearly a decade, since 2014, no Israeli hostages remain in Gaza. The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas resulted in 251 people being taken captive, while approximately 1,200 others lost their lives in the violence.

In response to the attack, Israel initiated a military operation in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 71,660 people, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, the health ministry reports that at least 492 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed.

With all hostages, both living and deceased, now back in Israel, the second phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza can proceed. A key component of this plan is the permanent opening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which is scheduled to happen for the first time since May 2024.

The plan also outlines a comprehensive vision for Gaza's future, including the complete disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups, the establishment of a technocratic government, and a large-scale reconstruction effort in the region.

According to Sasha Troufanov, the current measures are insufficient to prevent a repeat of the attack that occurred on 7 October.

Troufanov stated, "While rebuilding Gaza after the war is a comprehensible goal, it's essential to prioritize stopping the violence against Israel. During my captivity, the terrorists explicitly told me that they would continue to carry out such attacks."

Troufanov emphasized that rebuilding Gaza and reopening the Rafah crossing would not address the underlying issue, saying, "Unless we find a way to put an end to the promotion of terrorist activities and hatred, these efforts will be futile."

As a former hostage, Troufanov is now undergoing mental and physical rehabilitation. Following surgery on his leg, he is currently using crutches, but he looks forward to dancing at his upcoming wedding to Sapir Cohen, viewing it as a triumph over adversity, saying, "It's a victory: overcoming hate and fear to build a life together and move forward."