The remains of 19-year-old Staff Sergeant Itai Chen, the last American citizen kidnapped by Hamas, were returned from Gaza for burial on Monday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated, “After the identification process by the National Forensic Laboratory, IDF representatives worked with the Israeli Police and the Military Rabbinate to inform the family that Mr. Itai had been returned for burial.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked, “The remains of Itai Chen, a 19-year-old American man held hostage by Hamas, have finally returned home. We honor his life, mourn his loss, and stand with his family,” on Tuesday.
The IDF indicated that Chen’s funeral would be conducted with full military honors later this week.
Chen held dual citizenship in the United States and Israel. He was born in New York and later grew up in the coastal city of Netanya, Israel. His family described him as a fun-loving and energetic individual, with interests in singing, dancing, sports, and video games. He also served as an instructor in youth programs and was the middle child of three siblings.
He had joined the IDF, serving in an armored unit as part of a tank crew stationed near Kibbutz Nahal Oz when Hamas launched an attack on October 7, 2023. Interestingly, he wasn’t supposed to be on duty that day; he had been replaced by another soldier so he could attend his brother’s bar mitzvah the following week.
Kibbutz Nahal Oz was significantly targeted during the attacks, with Palestinian militants documenting their actions using stolen phones from residents. On that day, 15 residents lost their lives, and eight were taken hostage to Gaza. Many former residents expressed that they were too traumatized to return home.
Staff Sergeant Itai suffered fatal injuries when enemy fire struck his tank while he defended the kibbutz. Subsequently, Hamas took the bodies back to Gaza but was evasive in confirming their status.
“Itai and his forces fought Hamas for hours, protecting Israeli civilians from heinous acts. Ultimately, when reinforcements failed to arrive, their tanks were compromised, and three of the four crew members were captured,” said his father, Ruby Chen.
Ruby and his wife, Haggitt, along with other families of hostages, became proactive advocates for the release of prisoners and their remains, maintaining frequent communication with both the Biden and Trump administrations.
“Hamas has subjected us to a low form of psychological terrorism, leaving us in the dark about what is happening,” Ruby stated.
The Israeli government has criticized Hamas for the perceived slow return of hostages and their remains, while Hamas claims they are still searching among the rubble in Gaza. A representative stated they found Chen’s body on Tuesday during excavation efforts.
The IDF had initially believed Itai might still be alive but later verified he had been killed in March 2024. He had participated in the battle alongside two crew members, including Captain Daniel Perez and Sgt. Timer Leibovitz.
The fourth crew member, Sgt. Private First Class Matan Angrest, was taken alive and returned to Israel last month as part of a ceasefire agreement. Upon his return, he carried a handmade poster honoring his fallen comrades.
“I’ve been thinking about you. You’re finally home, bro,” he shared on social media after Chen’s remains were returned.
The Hostage/Missing Families Forum expressed their sorrow, describing Itai Chen as an “outstanding young man” and a profound figure in their community. They emphasized the urgency in bringing all hostages home soon.
Despite the return of Chen’s remains, reports indicate that Hamas still retains the bodies of seven other hostages, including five Israelis.
