Father of U.S.-Israeli hostage pleads for hostage deal after confirmation of son's death

Record ID: 1771493

  • Title: Father of U.S.-Israeli hostage pleads for hostage deal after confirmation of son's death
  • Date: 13th March 2024
  • Summary: T-SHIRTED PRINTED WITH PICTURE ITAY CHEN
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2024 09:45
  • Keywords: Biden gaza war hamas hostages october 7
  • Location: NETANYA, ISRAEL
  • City: NETANYA, ISRAEL
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East
  • Reuters ID: LVA002766113032024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The father of a U.S.-Israeli citizen whose body is still being held in Gaza called on Hamas on Wednesday (March 13) to release all hostages after receiving final confirmation that his son was killed in the Oct. 7 attack and taken across the border.
    In an interview with Reuters, Ruby Chen said they wanted the body of their son, Itay Chen, back home so they can give him a proper burial and mourn his death.
    "As a father, as a parent, you want to have your son back and be able to mourn for him. And I call to Hamas again - are you humans? Or do you wish to continue to cause suffering, just for the case of suffering? Lay down your arms. Sign a deal. Let us end this agony of many, many people and try to find a better future,” Chan said.
    Chen, 19, was serving in the Israeli army near the Gaza border when swarms of Hamas militants attacked military bases, communities, roads and an outdoor music festival on October 7, killing 1200 people and kidnapping 253, mostly civilians.
    Chen was believed to be alive when he was taken hostage by Hamas. But the Israeli army provided the family with intelligence analysis that suggested he was killed in the attack more than five months ago.
    U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he was devastated to learn that Chen was not alive. Biden and other U.S. officials paid their respect on phone calls to the family.
    "I do not think we could have found a more friendly, compassionate, sympathetic administration than the Biden administration," Chen said.
    Biden said in a statement following the announcement of Chen's death that the administration is committed to the release of all hostages. "We will never stop working to bring your loved ones home," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
    Israel says 134 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with more than 30 who are confirmed dead.
    The Oct.7 rampage, the deadliest attack on Israel in its 75 years, sparked one of the bloodiest wars in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas, which rules Gaza, has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza authorities, while infrastructure has been obliterated and hundreds of thousands are now close to famine.
    (Production: Janis Laizans, Avivit Delgoshen)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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