HIS WORST FEAR
B’klyn father’s IDF son is dead
An NBA-loving 19-year-old American-Israeli soldier whose dad is from Brooklyn was identified Tuesday as among those abducted and killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 — with the terrorists still holding his body.
Israel Defense Forces Sgt. Itay Chen was previously believed to have been one of six US citizens still held alive by Hamas.
But the teen was killed while serving with the 7th Armored Brigade’s 75th Battalion near the Israel-Gaza border, where his base was attacked during the massacre, Israel officials said, according to the Times of Israel.
Israeli and US intelligence agencies recently found fresh videos of the October slaughter and determined he had been killed that day and his body taken to Gaza, a source close to the matter told Axios.
‘Great pain’
Chen’s family — including dad Ruby Chen, who is originally from Flatbush — were informed of the tragic news Monday night, the outlet said.
“Our hearts are broken. We loved him so much, and we would have done anything to bring him home alive,” the grieving family said in a statement.
“We thank everyone who supported and accompanied us throughout these 158 unbearably difficult days. Today, in great pain, we joined the family of October 7 victims — and we will not stop until all the hostages are returned to their families.”
Itay, a Boy Scout who also loved PlayStation, grew up in Israel but frequently visited New York City with his family, his father told The New York Times earlier this year.
“I want to take him back to Coney Island,” the dad said when there was still hope the teen was alive. “I want to take him back to Madison Square Garden.”
Ruby Chen also told ABC7 before learning of his son’s death, “Itay, the kid that has always been giving and giving and giving to the community.
“He became a Lakers fan. Isn’t that what kids do? Want to be rebellious,” Ruby joked at the time.
On the day of the terror attack, Itay was working near the border to try to rack up time to get off for younger brother Alon’s upcoming bar mitzvah, the BBC reported.
Just a few days later, after the massacre, thousands of people gathered near the family’s home in Netanya as Alon celebrated the poignant milestone in his brother’s absence, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency said.
Itay’s family will not hold a funeral or sit shiva, the traditional seven days of Jewish mourning, until his body is returned, the family’s Tuesday statement read.
Sympathy
“Jill and I are devastated to learn that American Itay Chen was killed by Hamas during its brutal terrorist assault on Oct. 7,” President Biden said in a statement. “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.”
Gov. Hochul said in a statement on X on Tuesday, “Until today, we still hoped that New Yorker Itay Chen was alive. I met with Itay’s father, Ruby, in Jerusalem & heard what an incredible young man he was. May his memory be a blessing.”
In the months after Oct. 7, Chen’s relatives campaigned for the release of their son and the hostages they thought he was still living among as a captive.
Last week, Chen’s mother was the guest of Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at Biden’s State of the Union address. The soldier’s aunt, Esther “Etty” Israeli, was the guest of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the politician’s office said.