US-Israeli citizen Itay Chen, 19, who was believed to Gaza hostage was killed during October 7 Hamas massacre and never kidnapped at all, IDF reveals

A US-Israeli citizen believed to have been kidnapped in Gaza was actually killed by Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attacks, the IDF revealed. 

Sgt. Itay Chen, 19, was killed by Hamas near the Gaza border as he fought against the group during the attacks, which killed over 1,200 people. 

Although he was initially believed to be one of six US citizens still alive in Gaza since the onslaught, new intelligence information found that he was killed. 

Chen’s stricken father Ruby, from Brooklyn, New York, previously slammed President Biden as he urged US officials to do more to protect US citizens being targeted by Hamas. 

Following the announcement of his death, Chen becomes the 34th American killed in the Hamas attacks. 

He was thought to be one of six US citizens still alive as hostages in Gaza until his death was revealed Tuesday

President Joe Biden said he was ‘devastated’ to learn that Chen was killed on Oct. 7. 

‘Today, our hearts are heavy,’ The President wrote in a statement released Tuesday. ‘Jill and I are devastated to learn that American Itay Chen was killed by Hamas during its brutal terrorist assault on October 7.’ 

‘In December, Itay’s father and brother joined me at the White House, to share the agony and uncertainty they’ve faced as they prayed for the safe return of their loved one.’

‘No one should have to endure even one day of what they have gone through. At the end of our meeting, they gave me a menorah—a solemn reminder that light will always dispel the darkness, and evil will not win.’ 

‘Today, as we join Itay’s parents, brothers, and family in grieving this tragic loss, we keep this reminder close to our hearts. And I reaffirm my pledge to all the families of those still held hostage: we are with you. We will never stop working to bring your loved ones home.’ 

Chen’s father, New York-born Ruby, slammed US officials for ‘taking a back seat’ in the search for his son when it was believed that he was taken hostage 

Chen served in the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade’s 75th Battalion, and was engaged in countering Hamas as it lay siege over the Gaza border on October 7. 

After his death, his body was taken by Hamas, and his family will not hold any funeral or sit shiva until his body is returned from the strip, reports Times of Israel. 

After Itay went missing and was presumed kidnapped, his father Ruby, who had lived in New York but now lives in Israel, criticized US officials for ‘taking a back seat’ in the investigation into his son’s whereabouts. 

At the time, he said the last time he heard from his ‘wonderful’ son, he told him that his military base was under heavy bombardment. 

‘No one has seen him in the hospital… and no one has seen him in a morgue deceased,’ Mr. Chen told CNN. ‘So, the only thing that the IDF has to say is we don’t know where he is.’

Mr. Chen made a direct plea to President Biden to step up US efforts to help its dual citizens under attack from Hamas.

Mr. Chen said his son, Itay (pictured), had been confirmed as missing in action by the Israeli Defense Force he was serving on the Gaza border as Hamas launched its attack

‘I today with my family went in front of the U.S. Embassy asking the U.S. Embassy to treat us first and my son as a U.S. citizen,’ he said.

‘A U.S. citizen is missing in action…And if he is indeed missing in action and might even be a prisoner of war (PoW), I think that the U.S. at a minimum needs to demand that any PoW needs to be treated according to international law. 

‘We unfortunately do not get that treatment at the moment. President Biden and the Secretary of State [Anthony Blinken], we have great respect for them. They are saying all the correct things that we expect them to say.

‘But again, we believe that they could be more active in the actions to be taken to identify and find these U.S. citizens that are missing in action.’

Following news of Chen’s death, the White House said in a statement that President Biden and the First Lady’s ‘hearts are heavy’ with the loss.

‘In December, Itay’s father and brother joined me at the White House, to share the agony and uncertainty they’ve faced as they prayed for the safe return of their loved one,’ the statement read. 

‘No one should have to endure even one day of what they have gone through. At the end of our meeting, they gave me a menorah—a solemn reminder that light will always dispel the darkness, and evil will not win.

‘Today, as we join Itay’s parents, brothers, and family in grieving this tragic loss, we keep this reminder close to our hearts. And I reaffirm my pledge to all the families of those still held hostage: we are with you. We will never stop working to bring your loved ones home.’

Itay had been one of the few American citizens believed to be held as hostage by Hamas, as seen in a missing person’s poster 

Ruby had made several impassioned pleas for help for his son’s return, and in January said: ‘Every day my son doesn’t come home is a day where I have failed.’  

Chen’s father also made the heartbreaking revelation that his son was not initially posted to the base, but was staying there so he could return home for his younger brother’s bar mitzvah – a Jewish initiation ceremony for a boy turning 13 – that weekend. 

The stricken father said he was hopeful Itay, a basketball fanatic who idolized Coby Bryant growing up, could be reunited with his brother in time for the landmark celebration. 

‘I plead to President Biden…please do all in your power to make sure that we know where our son is and be able to celebrate as we wanted to just a week ago.’