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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Rubio ‘honors the life’ of Itay Chen after his remains returned home
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Staff Sgt. Itay Chen (Courtesy)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that the US “honors the life” of IDF Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, a dual US-Israeli citizen, after his remains were returned to Israel from Gaza last night.
“The remains of Itay Chen, a young American taken hostage by Hamas at just 19 years old, have finally returned home,” Rubio writes on X. “We honor his life, mourn his loss, and stand with his family.”
Chen was the final hostage with US citizenship still being held by Hamas. His father, New York native Ruby Chen, became a vocal and unflagging activist on the world stage.
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