From the Liveblog of
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Itay Chen’s mother at slain hostage’s funeral: ‘Even though they told me you didn’t survive, I didn’t call you a body’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Hagit Chen, mother of fallen soldier Itay Chen, eulogizes her son at his Kiryat Shaul funeral after his body was returned to Israel.
“I tried to think of you as alive,” says Hagit Chen, “even though they told me you didn’t survive, I didn’t call you a body. You will always be my beautiful boy, even now.”
Chen says she needed to see her son one more time, to hug his body.
“Yesterday, I was able to finally to do that,” weeps Chen. “I’m sorry you waited so long to come home.”
She speaks about his laughter and his jokes, and that he was returned in his army t-shirt, “as if you knew we needed to be left with no doubt” that it was you.
“I wanted you to be a hero, but without paying with your life,” weeps Chen.
She thanks German Ambassador Stefan Siebert for the German government’s compassion, commitment and tireless effort. In English, Chen thanks US President Donald Trump, envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and “many, so many good people for opening their hearts and doors for us.”
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