The first time I remember fourth July, was during the American two hundred year existence in 1976. While children live in New York City, my parents woke up my sisters and I woke up to see the parade of long ships when it entered the Hudson River. Even as a child this beautiful display brought me a feeling of the great power of the US, the extraordinary event also gave me a different feeling: that America, my home country, would do anything and everything in his power to keep me, my family and indeed all his citizens, safe.
Americans will be in two very different realities on four July. Most will be surrounded by family and friends, enjoying baseball, hot dogs and ice cream ducts. But for my American family, as well as dozens of other families of hostages, this day will be a stark contrast. On this day that celebrates freedom, my son Itay will spend the fourth July as if he has the last 637 days – probably alone, in the cold, dark tunnels of Hamas in Gaza. He and 49 other hostages remain stripped of their freedom, while their families are in uncertain, unable to embrace the holiday of independence. We should not remember, especially on this day, that Hamas still keeps Americans hostage and a total of 50 hostages.
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American-Israëli Itay Chen, left, with his family before he was held hostage by Hamas terrorists. (The Chen family)
On this day we have to look beyond the haze of fireworks and remember that the fourth July is about something more. It is about celebrating our hard fought, long-covered freedom and knowing that an attack on the freedom of every American and taking them is hostage and an attack on the freedom of all of us. Taking American citizens as hostages should be an obligation, not active, with serious consequences. As long as Hamas owns American citizens, we let angry and terrorism win.
My son was 19 when he was held hostage. On this Independence Day he can no longer watch the Mets games with his brothers, something he loved and cherished. He can no longer try to play me in the pick -up game of the neighborhood, or check in every five minutes at the grill in which it is asked when the food is ready. His lack of freedom goes loudly on this Independence Day.
On July 5, my family and I will wake up again for the same nightmare that we do every day, where every moment raises the same painful question: where is my son and what can we do to get him back?
Ruby and Hagit Chen speak during an independence day event in Tel Aviv, Israel. Their son, Itay, is still being held in Gaza. In addition to the Chens, Einav Zangaukeer, whose son is still hostage in Gaza. (Adar Eyal/The Hygages and Missing Families Forum)
At the moment all our energy is aimed at one thing. As every parent knows, when your child disappears from your sight – even for a few moments in a playground or store – sets immediately in panic. But when your child is abducted, especially by terrorists, the only thing you can think of is getting them back, regardless of their condition. Until we can embrace Itay again, we can’t even start processing what awaits us or plan for the future. It is impossible to move forward if this remains an open wound.
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After the historical victories over Iran, Hezbollah, and yes, Hamas, it is now time for us to pause and assume the policy of President Donald Trump of ‘Peace by strength’. It is time for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to collaborate with the US and bring back the hostages. The US was successful last month in bringing New Jersey, Edan Alexander at home, independent of Israel, but it needs Israel to remove the remaining others.
President Trump is not a fan of half measurements and is in an excellent position to take off the ‘big beautiful deal’, an extensive diplomatic initiative that would put an end to the hostilities in both Iran and Gaza, the release of all 50 remaining hostages in Gaza-including my son and helps to stabilize the entire Middle-East.
Ruby Chen focuses on the UN Security Council and calls for more action to bring the hostages from Gaza home. His son Itay is still held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. (Bianca Otero)
President Trump is uniquely positioned to help such an initiative move forward. During his previous presidency, he successfully mediated the Abraham agreements and achieved what many had previously considered in an almost impossible standardization between Israel and various Arab countries. The big beautiful deal would be a direct expansion of this diplomatic milestone, which offers a more extensive and regional approach to peacemplings. The unorthodox style of the president has shown that breakthroughs are possible, even in the most deep -rooted conflicts.
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America defined the values ​​of freedom and human dignity that we celebrate on the fourth July. They did not come easily – we had to fight for them, good versus evil – and our constant defense of democracy is an essential part of the American identity.
An hourglass stands for a “kidnapped” kite with a photo of 19-year-old Itay Chen, during a subcommittee of the American house for Foreign Affairs in the Middle East, North Africa and Roundtable from Central Asia. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty images)
In recent months, my family president JD VANCE has met, FBI director Kash Patel, attorney general Pam Bondi and others who promise us that President Trump’s policy is not hollow words and “America first” prioritates the Release of Gijzelaars and those illegal and those illegal and those illeases including those Gijzelaars and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those illeases and those Gijzaars and those Gijzaars and those
To date, the Trump government has released 47 such Americans, and we pray that Itay will soon be one of them. Keep in mind on the fourth of July that there was an attack on our freedom on October 7 and co -Americans remain in captivity. I call on President Trump: do everything in your power to destroy terrorism and make sure that freedom wins the day with the release of the hostages.
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