Ruby Chen, father of American-Israeli soldier Itay Chen, joined The Ari Hoffman Show this week to deliver a painful but urgent reminder: his son remains a hostage of Hamas more than 610 days after the October 7 terror attacks in Israel. In a deeply emotional interview, Ruby Chen urged Americans not to forget the 55 hostages who remain in captivity, including his son, who may still be alive, though Hamas has refused to confirm his condition or return his body.
Itay Chen was believed to have been killed when Hamas terrorists struck his tank with an anti-tank missile on October 7. But in the absence of physical evidence or acknowledgment from Hamas, his family continues to cling to hope that he may still be alive.
“We were notified by the IDF that Itay likely did not survive,” Ruby said. “But to this day, Hamas has not acknowledged that he is in their possession or what his status is. So there is that sliver of hope — and that’s why we fight so hard every day.”
Ruby, currently in Washington, D.C., has been meeting with officials in the White House, the Senate, and other arms of the federal government in a relentless campaign to keep the remaining American hostages top of mind. He emphasized that President Biden’s administration has had a strong track record of freeing U.S. citizens from captivity — 46 Americans have been brought home since Biden took office — but two remain in Hamas custody.
“The administration has done a fabulous job overall. But there needs to be a plan B,” Ruby urged. “My son is an American citizen. I pay taxes just like anyone else. This government has an obligation to bring him back.”
Itay, who held American, Israeli, and German citizenship, voluntarily enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. He was 18, with the world in front of him — college, travel, career opportunities. But he chose service.
“He knew what it meant to be Jewish. Both sides of our family are Holocaust survivors. And he believed it was a privilege to serve in the IDF,” Ruby said.
A middle child, Itay had a close bond with his mother and a deep passion for life. “He was a Boy Scout counselor, he loved basketball, and somehow, even though I’m a Knicks fan, he became a Celtics fan,” Ruby joked. “We’re missing those moments now — just sitting on the couch watching the playoffs together.”
As Father’s Day approaches, the loss feels even more pronounced. “It’s going to be a hard one,” Ruby admitted. “We think of him constantly.”
Ruby Chen is not just seeking sympathy; he is calling on Americans to act. His message to the audience was clear:
“Give us five minutes a day. Call your congressman. Call your senator. Ask them: ‘What have you done today to get these two American citizens released from Hamas captivity?’ And keep asking. Every day.”
Some US lawmakers from Washington are already stepping up, including Rep. Michael Baumgartner of Washington, Rep. Adam Smith — the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee — and Rep. Kim Schrier, who voted to condemn Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
“People say, ‘What difference does it make?’ Well, it makes a difference when people don’t stop asking,” he said. “There are only two Americans left. That’s a doable number. This is not a lost cause. We lean on Qatar, we push our government — and we get them out.”
As the show closed, I told Ruby what so many in the Jewish community and beyond are feeling: “Etai’s picture is on the wall in my synagogue. We say his name in our prayers every week. And we will not stop.”
Ruby Chen’s plea is not just for his son — it’s a cry for national resolve, human compassion, and moral clarity in a world increasingly distracted by other crises.
As Ruby put it: “Every day, we ask ourselves: Have we moved the release of our son even one inch forward? And most days, we don’t know the answer. But we keep going.”
To support the campaign to bring Itay and the remaining hostages home, Ruby asks that all Americans contact their elected officials daily and keep the pressure on. Two U.S. citizens remain. Let’s not leave them behind.
Listen to the powerful audio here:
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