Itay Chen’s father demands justice be done ‘with those responsible for Oct. 7 catastrophe,’ denounces coalition’s misdeeds

By Jessica Steinberg

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9 November 2025, 1:50 pm

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Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Ruby Chen eulogizes his son, slain hostage soldier Itay Chen, at his funeral in Tel Aviv, on November 9, 2025. (Uriel Even Sapir/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

Ruby Chen speaks at the funeral of his son, Itay Chen, a fallen soldier whose body was brought back from Gaza last week.

Chen refers to Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer, who is present at the funeral as the government’s representative, saying that while Sofer “symbolizes to our family Jewish values that we were raised on,” his colleagues do not.

He says Sofer’s coalition colleagues have pursued honor, power, money, and tricks, have forgotten the true values of Judaism, and have sought “honor in place of humility, power in place of helping others, money and public-purse schemes instead of ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

“I ask you: Bring them here, call me, and we will walk together in this sacred place and visit [Colonel Asaf] Hamami and the other heroes, and set them straight, or we will throw them out, damn them,” says Chen.

Chen says his son was misled by his commanders, who told him the next significant battle would be in the north, not in Gaza.

“Israel’s politicians also gave Hamas motivation to attack because they wouldn’t listen to the army commanders who came and told them there was a danger at the door of the State of Israel and that the lines needed to be united and the temperature of public discourse lowered,” says Chen.

Chen calls out the commanders who stayed behind on October 7 and the politicians “who were supposed to be the responsible adults and the top officials responsible,” he says.

“We will chase them all and will not stop until they are required, under oath, to give every Israeli answers and to take responsibility — all within the framework of a state commission of inquiry,” says Chen. “A whole nation now stands and waits for answers, waiting for justice to be both seen and done with those responsible for the catastrophe.”

He thanks members of the Biden administration for their help, including Jake Sullivan, who served as the US national security advisor, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, and current US Vice President JD Vance.

Chen says that victory in this war begins with the decision to bring back the last of the hostages, toward the start of a better future.

“I pray that there will be enough worthy leaders in this country who will know how to lead us to that right place,” says Chen, to applause as he and Hagit Chen salute the grave of their son.