Itay Chen, a 19-year-old U.S. and Israeli citizen thought to have been taken hostage on Oct. 7, was actually killed that day, his mother and father mentioned on Tuesday.
The couple, Ruby and Hagit Chen, mentioned that the Israeli navy informed them that it had intelligence indicating that their son, a service member, was killed whereas defending civilians on the border of Gaza throughout the Hamas-led invasion.
“Our hearts are damaged,” the Chens mentioned in a press release. “We cherished him a lot, and we’d have achieved 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 youngster, Mr. Chen mentioned, Itay was multitalented and fun-loving, a Boy Scout who performed basketball and, like many younger folks, cherished his PlayStation.
Itay grew up in Israel, within the metropolis of Netanya, simply north of Tel Aviv, however his father mentioned the household would continuously go to his personal hometown, New York.
“I wish to take him again to Coney Island,” he mentioned. “I wish to take him again to Madison Sq. Backyard.”
Till the announcement of his loss of life, Itay Chen had been counted because the youngest American hostage remaining in Hamas captivity.
Of their assertion, Itay Chen’s mother and father 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 pieces of their energy” to deliver Itay’s stays and the opposite hostages dwelling.
Ruby Chen was a part of a bunch 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 Individuals are thought to nonetheless be hostages in Gaza, and their households have mentioned that point is operating out for them. No less than 30 of the full remaining 136 hostages in Gaza are believed to be lifeless, in keeping with Israeli intelligence.
The USA, Qatar and Egypt had hoped to safe a deal between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire that will additionally permit the discharge of a few 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 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 is not going to be a pause in combating.
Some family members 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 mentioned that the Israeli navy ought to proceed waging conflict towards Hamas, even when it means their family members stay in captivity.
In a assertion, Mr. Biden mentioned 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 cherished one,” Mr. Biden mentioned.
“Nobody ought to should endure even at some point of what they’ve gone by. On the finish of our assembly, they gave me a menorah — a solemn reminder that mild will at all times dispel the darkness, and evil is not going to win.”
