Father of hostage Itay Chen pleads for son’s return after 593 days in Gaza

I’m the daddy of Itay Chen, an American German Israeli citizen held in Gaza by Hamas for 593 days. 

On the age of 18, Itay joined the Israeli Protection Forces (IDF), and on that deadly Oct. 7, 2023, he and his squad fought in opposition to Hamas for a number of hours, defending Israeli civilians from being raped, burned alive and killed. Ultimately, Itay’s tank was neutralized by Hamas, and three of the 4 tank members have been taken hostage to Gaza.

In March 2024, my household was notified by the IDF that Itay most probably didn’t survive the October 7 assault. However for over 19 months, Hamas has not been keen to acknowledge that my son is of their possession or what his bodily standing is. It’s believed there are over 30 households with a deceased hostage in Gaza. As well as, there are a recorded 50,000 plus households with a lacking member of the family in areas of battle worldwide. 

Hamas’ actions are the bottom type of terrorist psychological warfare possible. What sort of human beings take useless folks as future negotiation chips? Who denies them the fundamental human rights and dignity they deserve?

A MOTHER’S PLEA: BRING MY SONS HOME FROM GAZA

Greater than 5 years in the past, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Decision 2474 – a landmark dedication to households like mine. This decision calls upon all events in armed conflicts “to actively seek for individuals reported lacking, to allow the return of their stays and to account for individuals reported lacking ‘with out hostile distinction.’” In different phrases, the world’s nations agreed that regardless of who you might be or the place a battle rages, each effort should be made to seek out the lacking and produce them residence. This isn’t simply rhetoric; it’s worldwide regulation and an ethical obligation.

But at the moment, Hamas’ actions in Gaza stand in brazen defiance of this decision. By persevering with to carry hostages – together with withholding the our bodies of these it has killed – Hamas is violating elementary rules of humanitarian regulation and the specific calls for of the Safety Council. Decision 2474 was the primary of its sort, unanimously adopted, and it signifies the world’s promise to households of the deceased.

Final Thursday, I had the chance to transient the Safety Council as a part of the American Mission. I urged the worldwide group to implement their prior resolution and ensure Decision 2474 is just not forgotten. 

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American Israeli Itay Chen has been held for over 593 days by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. (Obtained by Fox Information)

Once I stood earlier than the United Nations, I went there as a father — not a diplomat. I went there to place a human face on this world disaster. I wanted them to see our ache, to know what it means to attend 593 days not realizing in case your youngster is alive or useless. I begged the Safety Council to do one thing actual: appoint a Particular Consultant for Hostage Affairs, much like the U.S. which has a Particular President Envoy for Hostage Affairs. We’d like somebody whose solely job is to combat for our family members, to stress teams like Hamas to observe fundamental human decency and to verify households like mine aren’t forgotten within the halls of energy.

A devoted United Nations official might function a transparent point of interest for this problem — monitoring incidents, coordinating pressing responses and aligning related efforts, together with the implementation of Decision 2474. However greater than that, they’d give voice to victims and their households—to oldsters like me who want somebody to talk for us. 

A view of the United Nations Headquarters constructing in New York Metropolis on July 16, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures)

Now we have seen President Donald Trump‘s dedication to hostages the place he has launched at the very least 37 U.S. hostages from six nations since his inauguration. He has acknowledged on a number of events his demand that each one the hostages in Gaza be launched, residing and deceased. 

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What I concern most is the rising silence among the many public. The fact is that as wars drag on, consideration fades. For a lot of, the headlines transfer on. For us, the households, time stands nonetheless. We can’t afford for the American public to maneuver on from this disaster. And that silence has enamel. It says: your youngster’s life doesn’t matter. Your grief is inconvenient. Your ache is inconsequential. Please, don’t let our family members stay misplaced within the shadows.

I didn’t select to change into a spokesperson for the deceased worldwide. I’m merely a father who needs his son again. My son, Itay, was an enormous NBA Boston Celtics fan. I ought to have been watching the Knicks-Celtics playoff video games with him now. As a substitute, we endure this unfathomable ache. Itay’s demise, whether or not confirmed or in any other case, doesn’t make him any much less of a hostage, doesn’t make him any much less deserving of efforts to return him residence. And we, his household, are not any much less worthy of dignity, fact, justice, or peace.

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