Hamas Releases Remains of Last US Citizen Among Hostages

The body of an IDF staff sergeant, who was an American Israeli dual citizen, was returned to Israel. There remain seven hostage bodies still missing for Israel.

Hostage Itay Chen (L) with brothers Roy and Alon and parents Ruby and Hagit (R), in an undated photo taken in Italy. Courtesy of Ruby Chen

The body of the last remaining U.S. citizen who was among the 251 hostages taken by the Hamas terrorist group from Israel into Gaza in October 2023 has been released, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on the night of Nov. 4.

In the latest sign of progress under the U.S.-brokered cease-fire, the body of IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, who was an American Israeli dual citizen, was received by the Red Cross in Gaza and returned to Israel for burial.

“Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family that Itay had been returned for burial,” the Israeli military stated.

Chen, 19, of the 77th Battalion of the Seventh Brigade, was likely killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when he was on active duty and his body was taken into Gaza. His death was officially confirmed on March 10, 2024.

“The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family, continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages, and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement,” the IDF stated.

In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: “The return of Itay brings a measure of relief to a family that lived in agonizing uncertainty for more than two years. We will not rest until the last hostage is returned.”

Father Ruby Chen posted on X: “Day 760. Itay is back home.”

He thanked New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for her “unwavering support during these two dark years.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of the return of Itay Chen’s remains by Hamas, “We honor his life, mourn his loss, and stand with his family.”

The announcement came after the remains of another hostage were returned from Gaza on Nov. 4, totaling 20 hostages under the U.S.-led cease-fire that began on Oct. 10, in addition to the living hostages still held at the time.

The military wing of Hamas said earlier on Nov. 4 that it had recovered the body of an Israeli soldier in Gaza and intended to hand over the remains.

A day earlier, Hamas had also returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers.

The cease-fire is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas has so far been releasing one to three bodies every few days. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Gazans. So far, the bodies of 270 Gazans have been handed over under the current cease-fire. Fewer than half have been identified. The Health Ministry there posts photos of the remains online, in the hope that families will recognize them.

The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.

Israel responded with a sweeping military offensive that, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, has killed more than 68,800 combatants and civilians in Gaza, which the ministry does not distinguish between in its casualty reports.

Hamas and others have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza throughout the war. Israel has denied the charges and accused Hamas of holding Gazans hostage and using them as human shields.

For phase one of the cease-fire, there remain seven hostage bodies still missing for Israel. Five are Israelis and two are foreign nationals: a Tanzanian and a Thai. Five were civilians, alongside an Israeli police officer and an IDF lieutenant. The IDF lieutenant, Hadar Goldin, was killed by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014, and his body has remained in Gaza ever since.

For the next phase, the United States has produced a draft text for the U.N. Security Council that will provide a mandate for an international stabilization force in Gaza for at least two years.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump described the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas as “very solid.”

The U.S. Central Command said in a post on X that nearly 40 countries and international organizations now have representatives at the U.S.-led Civil Military Coordination Center, which opened in Israel last month to coordinate the flow of commercial goods and aid to Gazans and to monitor the cease-fire, amid continued raids by Hamas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.