Mourning the Loss of Itay Chen

Floor Speech

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Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in sorrow, one that sears me not only as a Member of Congress, not only as a supporter of the State of Israel and its people, not only as an American, but as a parent.

Since October 7, I have become close with Ruby and Hagit Chen. They are the parents of Itay Chen, a brave American who was serving in the IDF when he was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

When last I saw Ruby and the other families of the American hostages held in Gaza less than a week ago, I repeated the refrain: ``Send not to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.''

Sadly, Madam Speaker, we know that bell tolls for Itay.

Just this morning, intelligence emerged indicating that shortly after Hamas took Itay hostage on October 7, they executed him; an unarmed, defenseless hostage. It was an act of supreme cowardice, terror, murder.

Theirs was a crime that violates every international law, every rule of war, every moral ideal, and every principle of basic human decency.

His murder satisfied only one tenet, the one Hamas laid out in its own charter, which states their terrorist organization was put on the Earth to ``fight Jews and kill them,'' and to eliminate Israel.

These terrorists robbed Itay of his future. He was only 19 years of age. They robbed Roy and Alon of their brother. They robbed our Nation of a great American, a young American, an idealistic American, an American who loved his country, the United States of America, and loved his family's homeland, Israel. Crucially, they robbed our world of a generous soul.

Madam Speaker, there is no sequence of words, no order of syllables that exist in any language that can dull the pain that Itay's family feels this hour, but they ought to know that our commitment to secure their son's return is unbreakable.

We will not yield until we have recovered his remains, for his family cannot put him to rest and sit shiva until his body is returned. We will not relent, Madam Speaker, until we get every last hostage returned home.

Madam Speaker, I wish Itay's family strength as they grieve this terrible loss--the same strength that they have shown throughout this grueling ordeal. Many of you have met him, and Hagit, his mother, and maybe his aunt.

Indeed, the bell tolls for them and their son today, but it tolls for all of us, all of us who are vulnerable to the acts of terrorists and murderers and those without conscience.

May the Chens take comfort in knowing that bell's peal resonates in the hearts of every person who cherishes the human decency, courage, and generosity that Itay displayed.

May Itay's memory be a blessing.

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