Body of final US hostage Itay Chen, held by Hamas terrorists, brought home after 2 years in captivity

The assemblage of the past U.S. national held by Hamas, Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, a 19-year-old dual U.S.–Israeli citizen, has been returned from Gaza for burial, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed Monday. Seven much hostages’ bodies stay successful Gaza.

"Following the completion of the recognition process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, successful practice with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the household that Itay had been returned for burial," the subject said.

Chen served arsenic a combat worker successful the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade. He was killed connected the greeting of October 7, 2023, portion warring adjacent Kibbutz Nahal Oz—one of the hardest-hit communities successful Hamas’s brutal attack. Chen’s vessel was struck during the battle, and his assemblage was taken into Gaza. His decease was officially confirmed connected March 10, 2024.

BODY OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE WHO WAS HELD FOR NEARLY 700 DAYS IN GAZA IS RECOVERED

Ruby Chen's son, IDF Sergeant Itay Chen was serving on the Gaza borderline erstwhile helium was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists connected Oct. 7.  (IDF)

Itay was the mediate of 3 brothers. He grew up successful Netanya, a metropolis successful cardinal Israel, studied successful an precocious world program, and was known for his warmth, humor, and dedication. He loved basketball, hiking, and stone climbing, and earlier joining the service worked arsenic a campy counselor. Even aft sustaining an wounded astatine camp, helium insisted connected finishing the summertime to acceptable an illustration for the kids helium led. Later helium enlisted arsenic an armored-corps soldier, driven by a heavy consciousness of work to support others. He leaves down his parents, Ruby and Hagit, and his brothers Roi and Alon.

Over the past year, his parents led an unrelenting run to bring their lad home. They met with elder officials successful Israel and Washington, including President Trump, advocating for the instrumentality of each hostages and the remains of the fallen.

Ruby Chen addressed the U.N. Security Council, calling for much enactment to bring the hostages location from Gaza. Ruby's lad Itay is inactive being held successful Gaza by Hamas terrorists. (Bianca Otero)

Ruby and Hagit Chen shared successful a statement: "For 760 days, our beloved and beloved lad Itay, a leader of Israel, was held captive by Hamas. Last night, we received the bittersweet quality of his instrumentality location to Israel. Even successful this hard moment, we retrieve that determination are inactive 7 hostages who indispensable beryllium brought back: Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Meny Godard, Dror Or, Lior Rudaeff, Joshua Loitu Mollel and Sudthisak Rinthalak."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Chen household soon aft being notified of the identification. The premier curate offered his heartfelt condolences to the family, asked astir the well-being of Roy and Alon, Itay’s brothers, and vowed to proceed the combat without relenting until the past hostage is returned. The household thanked the Prime Minister for bringing Itay location for a due burial successful Israel. 

Ruby Chen told Netanyahu that Itay’s sacrifice indispensable not beryllium successful vain, and that determination could beryllium nary instrumentality to the mindset of Oct. 6. He emphasized the request to found a committee of inquiry, noting that the radical of Israel merit answers astir what happened connected that unspeakable time — answers for the 2,000 bereaved families and tens of thousands wounded successful assemblage and spirit.

President Trump’s peculiar envoy for Peace Missions, Steve Witkoff, besides called the Chen household for an extended conversation. 

Witkoff expressed his admiration for however the household had conducted their run to bring Itay home, and underscored their pivotal relation successful highlighting the urgency of returning each remaining hostages. He added that the household helped President Trump grasp the captious value of bringing location some the surviving and the deceased hostages and reinforced American determination and committedness to property guardant until the past hostage is returned.

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Itay Chen, 19-year-old U.S.-Israeli citizen, was connected progressive work successful a vessel portion connected Oct. 7, 2023.   (Hostage Family Forum)

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, "The instrumentality of Itay brings a measurement of alleviation to a household that lived successful agonizing uncertainty for much than 2 years. We volition not remainder until the past hostage is returned."

Chen’s ceremonial volition instrumentality spot this week with afloat subject honors.