Final Journey Home: The Return of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen

In a bittersweet development that marks both closure and continued heartache, the body of 19-year-old Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, the last U.S. citizen held by Hamas, has finally been returned from Gaza for burial. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed this Monday after completing the identification process through the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, working in coordination with the Israel Police and Military Rabbinate. Chen, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who served as a combat soldier in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, was killed during the morning of October 7, 2023, while courageously defending Kibbutz Nahal Oz—one of the communities most devastated by Hamas’s attack. His tank was struck during the fierce battle, and his body was taken into Gaza where it remained for 760 days. His death had been officially confirmed on March 10, 2024, but his return represents the end of a long journey home that his family has fought tirelessly to achieve.

Itay’s life was one defined by warmth, humor, and an unwavering sense of responsibility that belied his young age. Growing up in Netanya in central Israel as the middle of three brothers, he excelled academically while nurturing passions for basketball, hiking, and rock climbing. Before joining the military, he worked as a camp counselor, where his dedication was evident even after sustaining an injury—he insisted on finishing the summer season to be a role model for the children under his care. This same sense of duty guided his decision to enlist as an armored-corps soldier, driven by a profound desire to protect others. Behind the uniform was a young man with dreams and aspirations, whose life was cut tragically short, leaving behind his parents, Ruby and Hagit Chen, and his brothers Roi and Alon, all of whom now face the difficult task of mourning while celebrating the life of their beloved son and brother.

Throughout the agonizing 760 days since Itay’s capture, his parents transformed their personal grief into a relentless campaign to bring their son home. Their advocacy took them to the highest levels of government both in Israel and the United States, including meetings with President Trump, as they fought not just for their son but for all hostages and the remains of all fallen soldiers still in Gaza. In their statement following the news of Itay’s return, Ruby and Hagit demonstrated remarkable grace and perspective, calling the moment “bittersweet” while immediately highlighting that seven hostages still remain in Gaza: Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Meny Godard, Dror Or, Lior Rudaeff, Joshua Loitu Mollel, and Sudthisak Rinthalak. Their unwavering commitment to this broader cause, even in their moment of personal closure, speaks volumes about their character and the values they instilled in their son.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally reached out to the Chen family after receiving confirmation of Itay’s identification, offering condolences and inquiring about his brothers’ well-being. During this conversation, Netanyahu promised to continue efforts until every hostage is returned, a commitment the family acknowledged gratefully as they prepare for Itay’s funeral with full military honors. However, the exchange also revealed the Chen family’s determination to seek accountability, with Ruby Chen emphasizing that his son’s sacrifice must not be in vain and calling for a commission of inquiry into the events of October 7. He articulated that the Israeli people deserve answers about what happened that day—answers that would provide some measure of understanding to the 2,000 bereaved families and tens of thousands wounded, both physically and emotionally, in the aftermath of the attack. This call for transparency reflects a desire not just for personal closure but for national healing and prevention of future tragedies.

The impact of the Chen family’s advocacy extended to the highest levels of American government as well. Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy for Peace Missions, engaged in a lengthy conversation with the family, expressing admiration for their campaign and acknowledging their crucial role in highlighting the urgency of returning all hostages. Witkoff noted that the family had helped President Trump understand the critical importance of bringing home both living and deceased hostages, reinforcing American commitment to continuing these efforts. This international dimension of the Chen family’s advocacy underscores the complex geopolitical context in which personal tragedies like Itay’s occur, and how individual families can influence diplomatic priorities through their persistence and moral clarity. Their story has become part of a larger narrative about the human cost of conflict and the obligations nations have to their citizens caught in war zones.

While Itay’s return provides a measure of solace to his family, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing suffering of others still awaiting word of their loved ones. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum acknowledged this duality, noting that Itay’s return brings “a measure of relief to a family that lived in agonizing uncertainty for more than two years” while emphasizing their commitment to continue working “until the last hostage is returned.” As the Chen family prepares for Itay’s funeral, their journey represents both an ending and a continuation—the culmination of their specific search for their son, but an ongoing commitment to broader justice and accountability. In Itay’s story, we see reflected the larger human struggles that persist in conflict zones around the world: the tension between closure and continued advocacy, between personal grief and public policy, and between honoring the fallen while fighting for the living. Staff Sergeant Itay Chen has finally come home, but the work he represented continues, both for his family and for his nations.