Father of slain hostage says US must reckon with its Oct. 7 victims

Ruby Chen, father of slain U.S.-Israeli hostage Itay Chen, stated that Americans have not fully acknowledged the over 45 U.S. citizens killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and subsequent conflict. Chen, whose son was killed by Hamas and whose remains were returned in November 2025, is advocating for a U.S. investigative body focused on American victims and support for their families. He also urges Israel to establish a state commission of inquiry into the failures that led to the massacre, emphasizing, "The question is how did it happen, and how do we prevent this from happening again?" Chen expressed concerns about the future of U.S.-Israel relations, particularly regarding Israel's perceived alignment with the Republican Party, and hopes upcoming elections will prompt action on these issues.