Two Americans remained among the deceased hostages held by Hamas on Wednesday as the Palestinian terror group failed to meet the terms of President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Nineteen-year-old American-Israeli dual national Itay Chen was initially believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023 while serving along the Gaza border, but was later declared dead by the IDF. His body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Captain Omer Neutra, 21, a fellow American-Israeli from New York, was killed in battle that same day and his body remains in captivity.
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Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old American-Israeli who served as a platoon commander in the Armored Corps, was declared dead by the Israeli military on Monday. He died on October 7, IDF said. (Israeli Armed Forces/X)
On Monday, Neutra met with Trump for an hour during the president’s visit to Israel.
“We have expressed our concern that no deceased hostage remains in Gaza. We know we are dealing with a terrorist organization that is exploiting every gray area in any deal. Although the living hostages were returned as agreed, we are already seeing violations,” Neutra said. “The president assured us that he would do everything he could to bring our children home.”
Earlier Wednesday, Neutra and his wife didn’t go to sleep until 3 a.m. after learning that the four bodies released by Hamas once again did not contain their son — and that one of them was not even a hostage.
The American hostage families met the new SPEHA director Adam Boehler. The families thanked President Trump and his administration for all they have done about the hostage crisis. From left to right: Ronen Neutra, Jonathan Dekel Chen, Adi Alexander, Orna Neutra, Yael Alexander, Adam Boehler and Ruby Chen (Rubin Chen)
“Our expectation is that President Trump will ensure that the two American citizens still held by Hamas – our son Omer and Itay Chen – are brought home for burial,” he continued. “After fighting for this for two years, we deserve closure – and our son deserves a proper burial in the country he loved and defended.”
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Ruby Chen addressed the UN Security Council and called for more action to bring the hostages home from Gaza. Ruby’s son Itay is still being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. (Bianca Otero)
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas was obliged to return all 28 bodies, in addition to the 20 living prisoners released on Monday. However, the terror group has only delivered seven bodies so far – four on Monday and three more on Tuesday evening – in clear violation of the deal.
“There is a diplomatic effort to ensure that the agreement is honored,” said Ruby Chen, the father of Itay Chen, the other remaining American held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
“Hamas did not deliver the majority of the hostages yesterday, and we – the families – are obviously very disappointed,” he continued. “Especially as an American citizen, I am disappointed that the United States has failed to bring back my son. We demand that today’s opportunity to release the remaining hostages is not lost.”
Ruby Chen’s son, IDF Sgt. Itay Chen was serving along the Gaza border when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7. (IDF)
“The US and the mediators should put pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages,” Chen added, “and use the agreed components – such as the release of Palestinian prisoners and the reopening of the Rafah crossing.”
The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that one of the four bodies Hamas returned to Israel late Tuesday did not belong to any of the identified hostages.
IDF SAYS BODY TRANSFERRED BY HAMAS DOES NOT MATCH HOSTAGES
Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of American-Israeli citizen Omer Neutra, have been held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)
Trump issued a sharp warning to Hamas on Tuesday and promised that the US will take action if the terrorist group fails to lay down its arms.
“They said they were going to disarm, and if they don’t, we will disarm them,” Trump told reporters at the White House during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei.
Professor Hagai Levine, head of the health team at the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, described the emotional toll on families still waiting for news.
Hamas hands over eleven Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City on November 27, 2023. (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“That is why the return of all hostages – living and deceased – is critical for families and for the nation as a whole to begin healing,” he added.
Levine explained that the identification and verification process for deceased hostages is carried out at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv.
“I am in close contact with the staff of the institute,” he said. “We have complete confidence in them. They use advanced technology and multiple identification methods, including individual markings, unique tattoos, fingerprints, DNA comparison with pre-obtained family samples and full-body CT scans.”
He warned that the process could take some time, citing previous cases such as that of Shiri Bibas, whose body Hamas initially replaced with that of a Gaza woman before eventually returning her actual remains.
The bodies of US citizens Itay Chen, left, and Omer Neutra, right, have not yet been returned to Israel by Hamas. (The Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
“Receiving the news is also a crucial and emotional moment,” Levine continued. “It may bring some relief and closure, but it is also an extremely stressful time – and we are here to support the families. Those still waiting fear their loved ones will be forgotten. The mission will not be complete until everyone is returned to Israel.”
Israel’s Kan 11 reported on Tuesday, citing Qatari media, that Egyptian teams had begun assisting efforts to locate the remains of deceased hostages in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum sent a letter to US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, expressing their gratitude.
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“We are extremely grateful and overjoyed to see twenty of our loved ones back home, finally reunited with the families who have fought tirelessly for their return for so long. However, what we feared is now happening before our eyes. Only four deceased hostages are coming home today,” the letter said.
“We must ensure that all remaining hostages come home. We cannot rest, and we know you will not rest until every last hostage has returned,” it added.
