Family of youngest American hostage Itay Chen optimistic after Gaza peace agreement

Father of American Hostage Expresses Mixed Feelings Over Possible Release

While many are celebrating President Trump’s announcement regarding a hostage release agreement, Ruby Chen, the father of Itai Chen—who is currently held by Hamas—remains cautious.

On “Fox & Friends,” Chen shared, “I have mixed emotions.” He expressed a sense of excitement and hope, particularly for the release of hostages, but also conveyed anxiety, noting that the situation is still uncertain. “It’s not 100%,” he mentioned, emphasizing that while all 48 hostages are anticipated to be freed, there’s the possibility that some might be overlooked.

Trump Highlights Global Unity in Efforts for Peace

Itai Chen, a 19-year-old American-Israeli, was initially thought to have been taken during a violent Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, while stationed at the Gaza border. Unfortunately, the Israel Defense Forces later confirmed that he had died. His body is among those that remain in Gaza, and there are expectations for it to be released alongside the living hostages as part of the initial phase of this peace agreement.

However, Chen noted that his family is still waiting for confirmation about Itai’s status, and so far, there’s been no physical evidence regarding what happened to him.

Calls for Recognition of Hostage Families

Despite the grim circumstances, Chen holds onto hope. He recounted how his family has struggled to get recognition from Hamas. “To this day, Hamas has not even acknowledged that they have him or his physical condition,” he said, mentioning the difficulties in communication with the previous administration.

Chen expressed gratitude towards President Trump’s ongoing efforts, saying, “We have high hopes for President Trump’s new administration. God bless him for doing what he did and focusing on the hostages.”

Alex Priesas, a former member of the White House hostage response team, has estimated that out of the remaining 48 hostages, about 20 are likely to survive. He shared that officials from Israel and the U.S. have reported that Hamas is requesting more time to locate the bodies of the hostages, citing challenges in communication due to military activity and recent bombings.