
Before Wednesday’s ceasefire offer in between Israel and Hamas, Ruby Chen, the papa of U.S.-Israeli IDF soldier Itay Chen, took a seat with ABC Information to review his 19-year-old kid and the opportunity that he was eliminated on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas abounded via the concrete and steel obstacles dividing the Gaza Strip and Israel, coordinating the most awful terrorist strike on the state of Israel given that its beginning.
Itay Chen was offering in the IDF and was unfortunately eliminated on the boundary of Gaza on Oct. 7, according to a record obtained by Itay Chen’s household. Ruby Chen discusses the unpredictability and difficulties bordering his scenario.
His kid’s fatality was not reported to the household up until a number of months later on, and the household remains to hang on to really hope that Itay might still live as one of the American captives being kept in Gaza.

ABC Information’ Linsey Davis talked to Ruby Chen, papa of US-Israeli IDF soldier Itay Chen.
ABC Information
ABC Information took a seat with Ruby Chen on Tuesday to review the recurring arrangements for a ceasefire and the launch of American captives.
ABC INFORMATION: For the liked among Americans kept in Gaza, while there is alleviation with the possibility of a truce, there are still many inquiries. Joining us currently is Ruby Chen, the papa of among the 7 American captives in Gaza.
Mr. Chen, thanks a lot for joining us. Your kid, Itay, was a 19-year-old American participant of the IDF offering on the boundary of Gaza on Oct. 7. Obviously, he was unfortunately eliminated that day. Offer us a feeling of that your kid was.
RUBY CHEN: A caring youngster. He was the center youngster of 2 of the brother or sisters. Attach of the household. Love the sporting activities. Serious basketball gamer. I am a Brand-new Yorker; New york city Knicks follower. For the love of God, I do not recognize exactly how, however he ended up being a Celtics follower. You recognize, we regular, you recognize, family members of a great deal of sporting activities followers and simply wishing to appreciate life.
And in this globe, it’s compulsory to do the concept. You can have mosted likely to university. Yet uhh entered into the Military to secure worths that, you recognize, all of us rely on and, you recognize, stun on Oct. 7 where there was a ceasefire and he did what he could. Yet we obtained the heartbreaking information someplace in March. We still are negative that that undoubtedly is what occurred given that Hamas did not provide any type of sign. So we still have some really hope that perhaps points will certainly appear in different ways.
ABC INFORMATION: As you stated, it had not been up until March, a number of months later on that you figured out that your kid supposedly was amongst those that passed away. Just how did you figure out that details? CHEN: It originated from knowledge. Once again, it’s used details. So, you recognize, it’s it’s challenging to sort of procedure. And you really did not, you did not reach eviction of of having the ability to proceed to the following phase due to the fact that this component of the procedure is not total. Which’s why we are still having some hope and wishing to reach the to the stage that we wish to know what occurred to him. And up until after that, anything that is one of the most method to specify him is the reality that he is the captive and he is a united state person.
ABC INFORMATION: Just how will you commemorate your kid’s life as soon as he has returned home?
CHEN: Yet we have not had the ability to reach that factor. You recognize, we have actually been so taken in with having the ability to come to be rejoined with him. And we took a trip, for instance, recently, we remained in Doha, Qatar, chatting straight with the arbitrators due to the fact that we really felt, as the arbitrators, require to learn through the family members straight. And what we’re seeking, which is an offer that not just has a structure for exactly how the initial loads captives appear, however in fact exactly how the last captive appears.
And we, when we reach that phase, Linsey, we’ll simply sort of procedure it and find out what to do. It’s undiscovered waters.
ABC INFORMATION: If and when a ceasefire offer is satisfied, what would certainly you such as to see occur next?
CHEN: We, naturally, wish to see all the captives bring out, naturally, the reality that 7 united state people. And making certain that the USA, for all its initiatives on negotiating and giving assurances and doing so a lot, you recognize, would certainly have the ability to prioritize its people in appearing. And for us as a family members, it’s simply locating a means to discover the power and discover the course to progress as a family members and sort of handle this scenario we remain in.
ABC INFORMATION: An example all of us can connect to. Ruby Chen, the papa of among the 7 American captives in Gaza. We thanks a lot for joining us. Actually value your time, sir.
CHEN: Thanks for having me Linsey. Wishing for far better days are in advance.