19 Year Old Dual Citizen of New York-Israel, The Last American Returned Body

 Nadene Goldfoot                                             

There were several different types of hostages held by Hamas from October 7, 2023.  That's because people came from many parts of the world for this special European known dance event being held on an Israeli kibbutz at the end of a Jewish holiday.  

Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, last remaining American hostage in Gaza, has been returned to Israel.  Israel on Tuesday said it had received the remains of Itay Chen, the last US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza, as part of the US-brokered ceasefire deal that came into effect last month.  He died on October 7 defending civilians living in an agricultural area near the Gaza border.  Born in the U.S., Itay grew up in Israel, in the city of Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv, but the family frequently visited his father’s hometown of New York. He was a Boy Scout who played basketball.   The only reason he was on duty that day was because he had switched weekends with another soldier so he could attend his brother’s Bar Mitzvah the following week. 

Israel said it received a coffin containing the remains via the Red Cross in Gaza and later transported it to Israel’s national forensics laboratory where he was identified.   only seven deceased hostages remain in Gaza.“For 760 days, our dear and beloved son Itay, a hero of Israel, was held captive by Hamas. Last night, we received the bittersweet news of his return home to Israel,” his family said in a statement. The family also said the bodies of the remaining hostages held in Gaza “must be brought back.”

He was another 19 year old IDF in a tank on the border that was taken  by Hamas into Gaza.  Chen was taken with Matan Angrest, the remains of Capt. Daniel Perez and Sgt. Tomer Leibovitz.

His father, Ruby Chen,  has been a loud campaigner for the return of all the hostages, speaking at Hostage Square and around the world, including at the UN Security Council.  Ruby and Hagit Chen, parents of 19-year-old American-Israeli hostage Itay Chen, spoke at the AJC Global Forum to honor their son.

RUBY CHEN is the Co-Founder and CEO of the non-profit CNEX Foundation Limited, the

 CEO of CNEX Studio. He is also the Senior Advisor of Executive Education of CEIBS

 (China Europe International Business School). He had been working in McKinsey & 

Company since 1992, and left as the Director of Leadership Institute in China prior to

 joining Peking University in its Business School (GSM) as the Executive Director for 

Executive Education in 2009. 

Resource:

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870210

https://www.ajc.org/news/meet-the-american-hostage-still-held-by-hamas