A body handed over by Hamas was identified as that of 19-year-old U.S.-Israeli soldier Itay Chen, a combat trooper in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade near the Gaza border, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced Wednesday.
Chen, who joined the Israeli army as a dual citizen, was abducted during Hamas's surprise assault in October 2023 and declared killed when his remains were found in Shuja'iyya, an eastern neighborhood of Gaza City.
The handover occurred through the International Committee of the Red Cross, marking the return of his remains as part of a broader exchange under the ceasefire that began on October 10. Prior to this, Hamas had released the remains of 20 hostages.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire has significantly reduced, though not halted, Israeli strikes, with Gaza health authorities reporting 240 Palestinian deaths and 607 injuries since October 11. The overall toll from strikes since last October stands at nearly 70,000.
As families on both sides await further releases, this latest return underscores the human cost of prolonged conflict and the fragile hope that ceasefire deals can pave a path toward lasting calm.
Reference(s):
Israel says remains received from Hamas are of U.S.-Israeli soldier
cgtn.com
