June 5, 2025
Meet the two American hostages who are still held by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups in Gaza.
1. Itay Chen
Itay Chen, 19, is the youngest American hostage in Hamas captivity. After months of holding out hope that their son would return, Chen’s parents, Ruby and Hagit Chen, learned that he died on October 7 defending civilians living in an agricultural area near the Gaza border. His body is still being held by Hamas.
Born in the U.S., Itay grew up in Israel, in the city of Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv, but the family frequently visited his father’s hometown of New York. He was a Boy Scout who played basketball and, like many teenagers, loved his PlayStation.
The fun-loving middle child, he was also the “life of the party” and the “connector” of their family, his father said. The only reason he was on duty that day was because he had switched weekends with another soldier so he could attend his brother’s Bar Mitzvah the following week.
Ruby and Hagit Chen, parents of 19-year-old American-Israeli hostage Itay Chen, spoke at the AJC Global Forum to honor their son, who was confirmed killed by Hamas on October 7. Describing him as joyful and patriotic, they called for justice and the return of all hostages.
2. Omer Neutra Z”L
Omer Neutra, 22, another grandson of Holocaust survivors, was born in Manhattan a month after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and more than a year after his parents immigrated from Israel.
A loyal Knicks fan, he knew the stats of every player, led the local chapter of the United Synagogue Youth group, and served as captain of the basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams at the Conservative Jewish school he attended from first grade until high school graduation.
After being accepted to Binghamton University in 2020 to study business and medicine, Omer decided to take a gap year in the country where his parents were raised – and stayed, opting to serve in the Israel Defense Force’s tank brigade.
When Hamas attacked, Omer’s team drove two miles to the border, where Hamas militants ambushed his tank with rocket-propelled grenades. On December 2, 2024, The Hostages Families Forum and IDF confirmed that Omer was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and his body kidnapped into Gaza.
How AJC is Advocating for the Hostages and Their Families: Since Hamas’ massacre of Israelis, AJC has been advocating side-by-side with more than 50 hostage families—during their visits to the United States and Europe—to keep their stories front of mind for officials at the highest levels of leadership across society, including with more than 200 members of Congress, multiple national media outlets, the U.S. State Department, major U.S. administration officials, high-ranking diplomats, faith leaders, and more.
Go Deeper: In addition, follow AJC's Explainer, Who Are the Israeli Hostages Being Released? Full Schedule and Latest Updates, for real-time updates. AJC also breaks down what you need to know about the Palestinian Prisoners Freed in the Hostage Agreement and What the Hostages Endured in Hamas Brutal Captivity.
