Itay Chen, a 19-year-old U.S. and Israeli citizen thought to have been taken hostage on Oct. 7, was in truth killed that day, his dad and mom stated on Tuesday.
The couple, Ruby and Hagit Chen, stated that the Israeli army instructed them that it had intelligence indicating that their son, a service member, was killed whereas defending civilians on the border of Gaza in the course of the Hamas-led invasion.
“Our hearts are damaged,” the Chens stated in a press release. “We liked him a lot, and we might have performed something to convey him residence alive.”
In an interview with The Instances earlier this yr, Itay’s father, Ruby Chen, described the younger man because the “lifetime of the celebration” and the “connector” of their household. A center youngster, Mr. Chen stated, Itay was multitalented and fun-loving, a Boy Scout who performed basketball and, like many younger individuals, liked his PlayStation.
Itay grew up in Israel, within the metropolis of Netanya, simply north of Tel Aviv, however his father stated the household would continuously go to his personal hometown, New York.
“I need to take him again to Coney Island,” he stated. “I need to take him again to Madison Sq. Backyard.”
Till the announcement of his dying, Itay Chen had been counted because the youngest American hostage remaining in Hamas captivity.
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 convey Itay’s stays and the opposite hostages residence.
Ruby Chen was a part of a gaggle of American households who met continuously with U.S. officers to push the White Home to barter the discharge of their family members. 5 different People are thought to nonetheless be hostages in Gaza, and their households have stated that point is operating out for them. At the least 30 of the full remaining 136 hostages in Gaza are believed to be lifeless, in accordance to Israeli intelligence.
The USA, Qatar and Egypt had hoped to safe a deal between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire that may additionally enable the discharge of a number of 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 shortage 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 is not going to be a pause in combating.
Some relations of Israeli hostages have demanded that Israeli officers take higher 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 in opposition to Hamas, even when it means their relations 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 convey the hostages residence.
“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 protected return of their liked one,” Mr. Biden stated.
“Nobody ought to should endure even sooner or later of what they’ve gone by means of. On the finish of our assembly, they gave me a menorah — a solemn reminder that gentle will at all times dispel the darkness, and evil is not going to win.”
