Released Hostage Sasha Trufanov learned this devastating news today

Alexander "Sasha" Trufanov's first moments of freedom today came with heartbreaking news - his father Vitaly was killed during Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. Trufanov learned of his father's death shortly after his release, following 498 days in Hamas captivity.

The emotional revelation came during Trufanov's reunion with his mother Yelena and partner Sapir Cohen at an IDF reception point near the Gaza border. Both women had themselves been held hostage by Hamas before being freed in an earlier exchange deal. Throughout their religious observance of Shabbat, they had waited anxiously for this moment of reunion.

"Throughout my entire captivity, I had no idea what had happened to my family," Trufanov said after learning of his father's fate. Hamas had kept him completely isolated from news about his loved ones during his 16 months in captivity.

Following the emotional reunion and devastating revelation, Trufanov was airlifted by military helicopter to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital for medical evaluation. Despite the personal tragedy, he took a moment to express gratitude to his supporters.

"Thank you to everyone who fought for my release and for the other hostages who came home with me today," Trufanov wrote in a statement. "And thank you to all those who supported my mother during this horrific period."

He also called for continued efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages: "We must bring them back soon. We cannot leave anyone behind."

The day marked a bittersweet mixture of reunion and grief for the Troufanov family - freedom at last, but with it the crushing confirmation of their worst fears about their beloved father and husband.