Father of returned slain hostage Itay Chen: Opponents of state commission of inquiry will bear ‘mark of Cain’

Ruby Chen, the remains of whose soldier son Itay were returned from Hamas captivity last week, calls for the return of the remains of Ran Gvili, Dror Or, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, the last three hostages still in Gaza.

“We understand just how much bringing back Itay was lifesaving — it saved my family’s life,” he tells thousands of people gathered at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. “In that same way, we need to save the lives” of the families of the last three hostages abducted in the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, he says.

“I believe the October 7 war is an inflection point in the history of the State of Israel. This is a war that will determine what are the values leading the nation of Israel forward,” says Chen. “The question is: Will we be able to adopt the values of mutual accountability and helping each other, or will we let our elected officials go back to focusing on the three P’s — power, profits, and prestige — at our expense?”

For true national recovery, he says, the October 7 onslaught must be investigated thoroughly by a state commission of inquiry, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes because it would be formed by the judiciary.

“Those who don’t want a state commission of inquiry, I warn you: history will judge you harshly. Your name will bear the mark of Cain for generations to come after the public kicks you out.”

“Something different can and must be built here, and I’ll be here to make sure that happens, so that the sacrifice of my son and the other heroes will not have been in vain,” says Chen.