American-Israeli Captive in Gaza Announced Dead, Family Maintains Calls for Immediate Hostage Deal

An American-Israeli citizen held hostage by Hamas in Gaza was announced dead by the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday.

Itay Chen, the 19-year-old son of Ruby and Hagit Chen, went missing in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel that killed over 1,200 civilians and took hundreds of others hostage. Itay, one of the American hostages believed to be remaining in Hamas captivity, was killed during the Oct. 7 attacks — and his family is maintaining their call for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

“Last night, we were notified by the Israeli Defense Forces that, based on intelligence materials, our son, Itay Chen, was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 defending civilians on the border of Gaza,” Ruby and Hagit said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our hearts are broken. We loved him so much, and we would have done anything to bring him home alive.”

Israel and Hamas are currently trying to broker a deal through U.S., Egyptian and Qatari negotiators to to free the hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. Ruby previously told the DCNF that a deal to secure the hostages must be the central priority.

“We urge all the players, specifically the United States, to put any pressure it has on Qatar, on Egypt, even on the state of Israel to get a deal done,” Ruby told the DCNF. Ruby also requested people keep his family, and all of the hostages and their families, in their prayers. (Read more from “American-Israeli Captive in Gaza Announced Dead, Family Maintains Calls for Immediate Hostage Deal” HERE)