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

I am the father of It is chenAn American German Israeli citizen who was held in Gaza for 593 days in Hamas.

At the age of 18, Ittay joined the Israeli defense forces (IDF), and on this deadly October 7, 2023 he and his squad fought against Hamas for several hours and protected Israeli civilians from rape, burned and killed. Finally, Itay’s tank was neutralized by Hamas, and three of the four armored members were hosted in Gaza Strip.

In March 2024, my family was notified by the IDF that Itay most likely did not survive the attack on October 7th. But for over 19 months, Hamas has not been willing to recognize that my son is in her possession or what his physical status is. It is believed that there are over 30 families with a deceased hostage in the Gaza. In addition, there are numerous 50,000 families worldwide in areas of conflicts with a missing family member.

Hamas’ actions are the lowest form of the psychological war of terrorist warfare. What kind of people does dead people take as future negotiations? Who denies you the basic human rights and dignity that you earn?

A mother of a mother: bring my sons home from the Gaza

More than five years ago the UN Security Council Resolution 2474 passed unanimously – a pioneering commitment to families like mine. This resolution calls on all parties in armed conflicts to “actively search for people in order to enable the return of their remains and to explain people who have been reported as missing, without disadvantage.” In other words, the world nations agreed that no matter who they are or where a conflict gropes, all efforts have to be made to find the absence and bring them home. This is not just rhetoric; It is international law and a moral obligation.

But today the actions of Hamas in the Gaza are in the brazen despite this resolution. By keeping hostages hostage – including the reservations of the corporations of those who killed them – violates Hamas against the basic principles of humanitarian law and the express claims of the Security Council. Resolution 2474 was the first of its kind, unanimously accepted and means the promise of the world to families of the deceased.

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to inform the Security Council as part of the American mission. I asked the international community to enforce their previous decision and to ensure that the solution 2474 will not forget.

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When I stood in front of the United Nations, I went there as a father – no diplomat. I went there to put this global crisis a human face. I needed it to see our pain to understand what it means to wait 593 days without knowing whether your child is alive or dead. I asked the Security Council to do something real: appointment of a special representative for hostage -taking, similar to the United States, which has a special presidential officer for hostage -taking. We need someone whose only task it is to fight for our relatives, put groups like Hamas under pressure to follow the basic human decency and ensure that families like mine in the halls of power are not forgotten.

A committed one United nations The official could serve a clear focus for this topic – monitoring incidents, coordination of urgent answers and alignment of the relevant efforts, including the implementation of the solution 2474.

We saw president Donald Trump‘S commitment to hostages in which he has published at least 37 US geese from six countries since he was taken. He has repeatedly explained his demand that all hostages in Gaza have published, live and died.

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What I fear most is the growing silence of the public. The reality is that attention fades when wars are pushing. For many, the headlines continue. For us, the families, time stands still. We cannot afford that the American public continues from this crisis. And this silence has teeth. It means that your child’s life doesn’t matter. Your grief is impractical. Your pain is irrelevant. Please don’t let our loved ones be lost in the shade.

I have not decided to become a spokesman for the deceased worldwide. I’m just a father who wants to go back his son. My son Itay was a huge NBA Boston Celtics fan. I should have seen the Knicks-Celtics playoff games with him now. Instead, we endure this unfathomable pain. Itty’s death, whether confirmed or in other ways, does no less than hostage, makes him no less deserving to return him home. And we, his family, are no less dignity, truth, justice or peace.

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