A 19-year-old Israel-US dual citizen was killed by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attack, and his body is still being held by the terror group, Israeli officials said Tuesday.
Sgt. Itay Chen was serving with the 7th Armored Brigade’s 75th Battalion near the Israel-Gaza border when the early-morning attack took place, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed, according to the Times of Israel.
His death was declared by the Military Rabbinate based on evidence and new intelligence, the outlet explained.
Chen’s family will not hold a funeral or sit shiva – the traditional seven days of mourning – until his body is returned from the Gaza Strip.
Just one week ago, Chen’s aunt, Esther “Etty” Israeli, was the guest of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) at the State of the Union address, the politician’s office said.
In December, Chen’s desperate parents also pleaded for the Biden administration to “get a deal done” with Hamas.
At the time, Chen was believed to be among the remaining living hostages held by the terror group in Gaza.
“They don’t have time. Each day that passes by, the probability of getting US citizens back home is not good,” Chen’s father, Ruby, insisted.
