The body of Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, a 19-year-old IDF soldier killed on October 7, 2023, was returned to Israel on Tuesday night, nearly 760 days after he fell in battle and was abducted to Gaza by Hamas.
Chen, a U.S. citizen and member of the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, was killed alongside his tank crew during the initial Hamas assault near Nahal Oz. His remains were held in Gaza while the other crew members were either returned or rescued earlier.
According to Hamas, Chen’s body was discovered during excavations in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood. The remains were transferred to the Red Cross, then handed to Israeli forces, who held a brief military ceremony before transporting the body for forensic verification.
His family, long among the most outspoken advocates for returning hostages and fallen soldiers, had refused to sit shiva until his remains came home. “After 760 days, Itay is back home,” his father, Ruby Chen, wrote.
Chen was the last slain hostage with American citizenship still held in Gaza. The bodies of seven other fallen Israelis remain in Hamas custody, and families continue to pressure the government for their return.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the family, who urged continued efforts to bring all remaining bodies home. The return follows the recent handover of three other fallen IDF soldiers, highlighting ongoing negotiations and the painful, prolonged toll of the war.
