Israeli-Russian Hostage Escapes Hamas, Reclaimed by Gazans, Confirms Aunt
Russian-Israeli hostage escapes Hamas but is later recaptured by Gazans and eventually released Aunt provides details of his ordeal
Roni Kriboy, a Russian-Israeli hostage, was initially able to escape from Hamas but was ultimately recaptured and returned to the militants before finally being released on Sunday, according to his aunt, Yelena Magid. Kriboy was abducted from the Nova music festival during a Hamas terror attack on October 7 and held at a building in Gaza.
Kriboy pictured after his release on November 26.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Magid reported during a radio call that the 25-year-old, who holds dual citizenship, was able to evade capture when the building was bombed. However, after hiding for a few days, he was apprehended and handed back to Hamas.
"He claimed to have been abducted by terrorists who took him to a building," she recounted.
"I gathered from the explosions that the building collapsed and he was able to escape from it... and for several days he hid, alone. Eventually, the Gazans captured him and returned him to the terrorists," Magid added.
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The ceasefire in Gaza has provided a brief respite for its residents, while also exposing the widespread destruction caused by the conflict. One woman shared the story of her relative who became disoriented and was stranded for four days while trying to reach the border.
Kriboy, who was injured when the building he was held in collapsed, is now in good health, according to Magid's statement to the radio station. He is the first adult male captured on October 7 to be freed by Hamas, although his release was not formally included in the hostages-for-prisoners agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The agreement led to the potential release of 50 women and children who were held captive in Gaza, with Israel also agreeing to release up to 150 Palestinian women and child detainees. Hamas attributed the release of Kriboys to the intervention of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's supportive stance on the Palestinian cause.
Magid explained that the parents of her nephew had relocated from Russia to Israel in 1992, six years prior to Kriboy's birth. She mentioned that he was born and raised in Israel and has little knowledge of the Russian language, according to the radio station. Amir Tal contributed from Jerusalem, with additional reporting by Stephanie Halasz in London.
