TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — The Islamist group Hamas transferred the remains of 19-year-old Israeli soldier Itay Chen, who held both German and U.S. citizenship, to Israeli authorities on Tuesday, closing one of the last hostage cases linked to the 7 October 2023 attacks near Nahal Oz.
German Ambassador expresses relief and sorrow
On the morning of the handover, German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert wrote on the platform X, stating that “WITH SADNESS BUT ALSO RELIEF, I THINK OF THE CHEN FAMILY TODAY: THEIR SON AND BROTHER ITAY, THE LAST GERMAN HOSTAGE, HAS RETURNED FROM GAZA.” Seibert, who has served in Tel Aviv since 2022, confirmed that the family could now hold a burial ceremony in Israel after nearly eight months of uncertainty.
Chancellor Merz offers condolences
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a post on X issued the same morning, wrote that “AT 19 YEARS OLD, HE WAS MURDERED AND ABDUCTED BY HAMAS. MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES TO HIS FAMILY, WHO FOUGHT BRAVELY FOR HIM.” The statement followed a meeting Merz held with Ruby Chen, Itay’s father, in Berlin in late September, during which the family urged stronger diplomatic involvement by Germany in mediation efforts.
Family’s earlier appeal for diplomacy
During that September meeting, Ruby Chen told Merz that “GERMANY HAS A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH TURKEY, AND TURKEY HAS INFLUENCE ON HAMAS – FINANCIALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY.” He appealed to the Federal Chancellery to press Ankara into supporting the U.S.-brokered peace framework then under discussion. Chen added that “MAYBE THIS IS THE TIME TO PUSH TURKEY TO PRESS HAMAS TO SAY YES TO THAT FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT.”
Context of hostage releases
According to figures from the Israeli army, Hamas abducted over 250 people during the 7 October 2023 assaults. Roughly 30 hostages either held or were granted German citizenship during captivity because of family ties in Germany. Under the ongoing exchange deal, Hamas has so far released all surviving captives in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Remaining bodies in Gaza
The Israeli Coordination Office for Hostage Affairs reported on Tuesday that Hamas had by now handed over 21 bodies. Seven deceased captives—two of them foreign nationals kidnapped from Israel—remain in the Gaza Strip. The return of Itay Chen’s remains marks one of the final steps in the first phase of the ceasefire and exchange process designed to end the war that erupted after the October attacks.
Official calls for closure and memory
Following the reception of the body in a ceremony at Kerem Shalom crossing, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that forensic teams identified Chen using DNA testing on Tuesday afternoon. Hagari told reporters that “THE CHEN FAMILY WAITED 241 DAYS; THEY CAN NOW LAY ITAY TO REST IN HIS HOMELAND.” Israeli Defense authorities said the funeral would take place later this week at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem under full military honors.
– More than 250 hostages were captured on 7 October.
– 21 bodies have been returned.
– 7 remain held in Gaza.
– 30 hostages had or obtained German citizenship.
With the handover of the last German citizen’s remains, the focus now shifts to completing the restitution of the remaining victims still in Gaza and advancing the truce plan that Washington and Cairo continue to negotiate with Israel and Hamas.