Nov 4, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Hamas returns the body of Itay Chen, the last U.S. hostage held in Gaza

Barak Ravid

The parents of the fallen hostage Itay Chen hold photos of him during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, last month. — The parents of the fallen hostage Itay Chen during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, last month. Photo: Yael Guisky Abas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Hamas returned to Israel on Tuesday the body of U.S.-Israeli hostage Itay Chen as part of the agreement to end the war in Gaza.

The big picture: Chen was the last U.S. hostage held in Gaza. The return of his body ended the most serious U.S. hostage crisis since the takeover of the embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Catch up quick: Chen was one of 12 Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.

He served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces and was stationed at the Nahal Oz base, near Israel's border with Gaza.
Five months after the Oct. 7 attacks, the IDF announced that Chen was killed in action on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants crossed into Israel and attacked his base.
His body was then taken by Hamas militants to Gaza.

Zoom out: Chen's parents, Rubi and Hagit Chen, were leading the campaign for the release of American hostages held by Hamas.

They managed to mobilize wide-ranging bipartisan support in Congress for the efforts to release the hostages and met numerous times with both former President Biden and President Trump and senior members of their administrations.

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Hamas returns the body of Itay Chen, the last U.S. hostage held in Gaza

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