Israeli authorities announced on Wednesday that the remains of a hostage returned by Hamas the day before were identified as those of Sergeant Itai Chen. The 19-year-old, who was born in the United States and grew up in the Israeli city of Netanya, was killed on October 7, 2023 during a Hamas terrorist attack, and his body was flown to Gaza.
Who was Itai Chen?
Chen, a member of the IDF’s 77th Battalion, Sa’ar Golan Division, was killed in action and kidnapped in Gaza on the morning of October 7. He was killed inside a tank during a battle at Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with other members of the crew, Capt. Daniel Perez, tank commander, and Sgt. Tomer Leibovitz.
The released hostage remembers Chen
Only one of them, Sgt. The tank driver, First Class Matan Angrist, was alive and had been taken hostage by Hamas.
Angrist was released last month as part of the Gaza ceasefire, and when he returned to Israel, the 22-year-old was seen holding a handwritten poster praising his fallen comrades, calling them “You are the Kings of Lions.”
As Chen’s body was returned to Israel on Tuesday, 760 days after his killing, Angrist posted a photo on social media, showing the pair, with the caption: “I never stopped thinking about you. You’re finally home, brother.”
“Outstanding young man”
“Itai was a beloved and respected Shilach coach, mentoring children and teens, helping them connect more deeply with the Land of Israel, encouraging personal growth, and accompanying them on their educational journeys. He completed the full training course, including the survival course,” said the Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons.
She added: “Itai was an outstanding young man – our best young man. The salt of the earth. He loved the Land of Israel and his family and the friends who always surrounded him. He had a heart of gold – always giving of himself to others, and always putting his friends first.”
Hamas and Israel exchange bodies
The military wing of Hamas announced earlier Tuesday that it had found the body of an Israeli soldier in Gaza and intended to hand over the remains. Militants in Gaza release one or three bodies every few days. Israel has sought to speed up the pace of returns, and in some cases has said that the remains are not those of hostages. Hamas said the work was complicated by the widespread destruction.
For every Israeli hostage returned, Israel releases the remains of 15 Palestinians. So far, the bodies of 270 Palestinians have been handed over under the current ceasefire. Less than half were identified. Forensic work is complicated by the lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza. The Ministry of Health there is posting photos of the remains online, in the hope that families will identify them.
(Tags for translation)Itai Chen
