‘All citizens deserve protection’: American parents protest after Hamas holds son hostage, urge Joe Biden to act

Itay Chen is believed to be one of the many people abducted by Hamas militants, and being held captive in the Gaza Strip

Published on: Oct 10, 2023, 09:02:36 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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The parents of a kidnapped American-Israeli dual citizen have been protesting outside the US embassy in Israel, urging Joe Biden to take action after the Hamas attack. 19-year Itay Chen, a member of the Israel Defense Forces, was born in New York city. He is believed to be one of the many people abducted by Hamas militants, and being held captive in the Gaza Strip.

Candles are lit for a vigil at Temple Emanu-El of New York on October 09, 2023 in New York City (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)

"We are asking the president to do what he can in order to bring our kids back safely home," said Itay’s father, Ruby Chen, according to USA Today. Supporters wore T-shirts that read “Help Find Itay” and held signs that read, “USA protects its citizens!", "Bring Itay Home Now," and "Help find Itay."

Itay serves in Israel’s Armed Corps and was on the Gaza border during the attack. He was raised in New York, but Ruby moved his family to Israel later. Ruby and his wife Laity Chen went to the Lahav 433 centre for identifying missing persons after they were unable to get in touch with their son following the Hamas attack. His parents were officially notified that his status was Missing In Action - or MIA.

At least 11 Americans have reportedly been killed during the attacks over the weekend. The Biden administration has not confirmed how many Americans are being held hostage. "While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas," president Joe Biden said in a statement. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis."

Ruby, outside the US embassy in Israel, said that the US government must stand up for all Americans. “Kids need to know that the U.S. is behind all of its citizens,” he said.

“What about liberty, justice, and freedom for all?” Ruby asked. “Biden needs to step up for all children — all citizens deserve protection, and kids need to know that the United States is behind them 100%.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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