Itay Chen, a 19-year-old U.S. and Israeli citizen thought to have been taken hostage on Oct. 7, was in actual fact killed that day, his dad and mom stated on Tuesday.
The couple, Ruby and Hagit Chen, stated that the Israeli army advised them that it had intelligence indicating that their son, a service member, was killed whereas defending civilians on the border of Gaza through the Hamas-led invasion.
“Our hearts are damaged,” the Chens stated in a press release. “We beloved him a lot, and we’d have accomplished something to deliver him dwelling alive.”
In an interview with The Instances earlier this 12 months, Itay’s father, Ruby Chen, described the younger man because the “lifetime of the celebration” and the “connector” of their household. A center baby, Mr. Chen stated, Itay was multitalented and fun-loving, a Boy Scout who performed basketball and, like many younger individuals, beloved his PlayStation.
Itay grew up in Israel, within the metropolis of Netanya, simply north of Tel Aviv, however his father stated the household would ceaselessly go to his personal hometown, New York.
“I wish to take him again to Coney Island,” he stated. “I wish to take him again to Madison Sq. Backyard.”
Itay Chen had been counted because the youngest American hostage remaining in Hamas captivity. The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, a gaggle representing households of the Israeli captives, stated in a press release that his physique was nonetheless being held by Hamas.
Of their assertion, Itay Chen’s dad and mom thanked the Biden administration and members of Congress for his or her assist. They added that they anticipated the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Biden to do “all the things of their energy” to deliver Itay’s stays and the opposite hostages dwelling.
Ruby Chen was a part of a gaggle of American households who met ceaselessly with U.S. officers to push the White Home to barter the discharge of their family members. 5 different Individuals are thought to nonetheless be hostages in Gaza, and their households have stated that point is operating out for them. A minimum of 30 of the overall remaining 136 hostages in Gaza are believed to be lifeless, in accordance to Israeli intelligence.
The US, Qatar and Egypt had hoped to safe a deal between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire that might additionally enable the discharge of among the hostages by the beginning of Ramadan, however no deal had come by the point the Muslim holy month started. Either side have blamed one another for the dearth of any progress on finalizing a deal; Israel has rejected Hamas’s calls for for a complete cease-fire, saying that with out one other hostage launch, there won’t be a pause in preventing.
Some family of Israeli hostages have demanded that Israeli officers take larger motion to prioritize the discharge of their family members, mounting protests which have included storming Israeli Parliament conferences, blocking highways, conducting days-long marches and rallying exterior Mr. Netanyahu’s home. Different households have stated that the Israeli army ought to proceed waging conflict towards Hamas, even when it means their family stay in captivity.
In a assertion, Mr. Biden stated he joined the Chens in grieving for his or her son and reaffirmed his pledge to by no means cease working to deliver the hostages dwelling.
“In December, Itay’s father and brother joined me on the White Home, to share the agony and uncertainty they’ve confronted as they prayed for the secure return of their beloved one,” Mr. Biden stated.
“Nobody ought to should endure even someday of what they’ve gone by means of. On the finish of our assembly, they gave me a menorah — a solemn reminder that mild will all the time dispel the darkness, and evil won’t win.”