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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 dad and mom stated on Tuesday.
The couple, Ruby and Hagit Chen, stated that the Israeli navy instructed 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 an announcement. “We liked him a lot, and we’d have achieved something to convey him dwelling 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 baby, Mr. Chen stated, Itay was multitalented and fun-loving, a Boy Scout who performed basketball and, like many younger folks, 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 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 an announcement 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 help. They added that they anticipated the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Biden to do “all the pieces of their energy” to convey Itay’s stays and the opposite hostages dwelling.
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 Individuals are thought to nonetheless be hostages in Gaza, and their households have stated that point is working out for them. Not less than 30 of the entire remaining 136 hostages in Gaza are believed to be lifeless, in line 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 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 won’t be a pause in preventing.
Some kin 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 navy ought to proceed waging warfare in opposition to Hamas, even when it means their kin stay in captivity.
In an announcement, 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 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 liked one,” Mr. Biden stated.
“Nobody ought to must endure even someday 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 won’t win.”
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