On October 7, 2023, my son Itay, just nineteen years old, was serving as an American-Israeli soldier stationed at Nahal Oz, where he was protecting the border when Hamas terrorists kidnapped and killed him. His remains were held in Gaza for a staggering 760 days— a harrowing psychological torment for my family— until he was finally returned home in November 2025, marking him as the last American hostage. He was my son. He was an American. Yet, tragically, many in his own country may not have even known his name, nor the names of Judy Weinstein, Danielle Waldman, or Carol Siman Tov.
This underscores the significance of the U.S. Senate’s unanimous passage of a bipartisan resolution, spearheaded by Senators Rick Scott and Jacky Rosen, which honors the 46 Americans killed by Hamas during that conflict on October 7. For the first time, their names are formally acknowledged in the records of the United States Senate. This resolution reaffirms our nation’s commitment to pursue legal justice for our families, with the Secretary of State delivering it to each of us.
It seems Washington is finally taking a moment to remember. Families of those who died are expected to gather in the nation’s capital soon for an event titled “Honoring American Victims of Hamas Since October 7,” marking the first time the U.S. government will officially recognize its citizens killed during that day in one place. I have pushed for this recognition as, quite frankly, many Americans are unaware that their country experienced one of the deadliest days of terrorism against its own people since September 11.
MY SON WAS ONE OF 46 AMERICANS MURDERED BY HAMAS. WE NEED A US INVESTIGATION.
I am profoundly thankful to Secretary of State Marco Rubio for stepping up to host this memorial, and to the Howard and Allison Lutnick Foundation for their support. The Senate’s vote, along with this memorial, conveys a message we’ve been longing to hear for three long years: Washington acknowledges our pain. These were not just foreign casualties in some distant conflict. They were American sons, daughters, and grandparents killed by extremists.
But, honestly, what concerns me the most is this: I really hope that the resolution and the ceremony won’t just be another fleeting “check the box” moment, after which Washington moves on without further action. Acknowledgment alone doesn’t heal wounds. Recognition, while important, doesn’t equate to recovery. Our families need action long after the cameras stop rolling.
So, I’m pleading with Washington for three key actions.
First, pass the October 7th American Victims Family Support and Remembrance Act. It aims to provide our families—many of whom live abroad—with similar mental health support and medical rehabilitation that Congress has created for the 9/11 families through the Zadroga Act, plus authorize a permanent memorial for the fallen in Washington. Grief is a heavy burden, especially when carried alone.
Second, Congress needs to set up a formal committee to probe how nearly 50 of its own citizens were killed on October 7. This isn’t just about accountability; it’s crucial for our families’ healing process. We cannot truly rehabilitate without understanding, and three years later, many families still have no clarity on how their loved ones died. In similar situations, like Benghazi where four Americans died, Congress launched eight investigations. With nineteen lost at Khobar Towers, there was an investigation. Congress cannot pass the buck to the Israeli government regarding how its citizens met their end. A clear accounting is essential for our understanding and healing.
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Third, we must transform the Senate’s words into true justice. As Senator Scott emphasized recently, America “has a duty to secure justice” for its citizens who were murdered. The Department of Justice must relentlessly pursue everyone accountable for the events of October 7—the killers and those who financially supported, armed, and enabled them—until justice is served. Every terrorist needs to grasp that killing an American leads to severe and lasting consequences. This isn’t about vengeance; it’s about deterrence, a vital measure to protect other American families from experiencing a tragedy like mine.
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Just this week, without a single objection, the Senate demonstrated what any nation owes its citizens who fall prey to terrorism, as well as the families they leave behind. I couldn’t save my son. However, I can still demand that our country acknowledge the truth surrounding these events, strive to prevent such occurrences in the future, hold accountable those responsible, and ensure that no other American family has to seek that truth in solitude.
