On Senate Floor, Rosen Honors Memory of Itay Chen, Renews Call for Release of All Hostages Held by Hamas

Watch Senator Rosen's full remarks HERE.

WASHINGTON, DC - During a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) honored the memory of Itay Chen, an American serving in the Israel Defense Forces who was killed and abducted by Hamas on October 7, and she reiterated her call for the release of the remaining hostages, including the return of Itay's body to his family. Senator Rosen also emphasized Congress's responsibility to ensure the safe release of the hostages still held by Hamas and the need to continue to hold Hamas's feet to the fire.

Senator Rosen has been a strong leader in the efforts to ensure the safe release of the hostages since Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7th. She introduced a bipartisan resolution that unanimously passed the Senate condemning Hamas's terrorist attack, demanding release of the hostages, and calling on the United States to lead the global effort to free them. In the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attack, Senator Rosen joined a bipartisan letter urging President Biden to do anything in his power to rescue the American hostages.

Below are Senator Rosen's floor remarks as delivered:

Mr. President,

Two hundred and ninety one days.

That's how long it's been since the families of those being held hostage by Hamas have been not able to hug their loved ones.

Two hundred and ninety one days.

Nine and a half months of not being able to rest, to sleep, to breathe. Nine and a half months of heartbreak. Nine and a half months of agony beyond imagination.

I have met with these families in Israel and here in the Capitol many times since October Seventh, and my heart is shattered with each and every single conversation.

And each time I've met with them, their ask is clear: that we - the United States and the international community - do everything we can to help them reunite with their loved ones.

Their resilience, their strength, their perseverance - it is nothing short of extraordinary.

Hostages who have survived and been released have shared stories about their inhumane treatment - being kept in dark tunnels, with little to no food to eat, some even tortured, not knowing if they would live or die, not seeing the light of day, and surely not knowing if they'd ever see their beloved families again.

We've also seen evidence of Hamas's use of sexual violence both on and after October Seventh including women who were raped in captivity.

While some hostages have been reunited with their loved ones in the last few months, there are still families - including those of eight Americans held hostage by Hamas, still held hostage by Hamas - who have yet to be made whole again, yet to be made whole again, and we will not forget them.

Two hundred and ninety one days.

And there are families whose ability to see or hug their loved one have been taken away forever, forever, by Hamas terrorists. Their loved ones having died at the hands of those terrorists.

Like the family of Itay Chen.

I met with Itay's father, Ruby, just days after the October Seventh terrorist attack.

As a mother, as a Jew, and as a human being, my heart broke when hearing about Itay's story and the unimaginable pain his parents are carrying. They are with us here at the Capitol today.

I want to apologize. I'm sorry I have to give this speech.

I know how much you loved your son. Itay was multi-talented, fun-loving, a Boy Scout who played basketball.

He was an American who served in the Israel Defense Forces, and was only nineteen years old when Hamas launched its brutal terrorist attack on October 7th when Hamas murdered him.

For months, we didn't know about Itay's condition - whether he was held hostage or even if he were alive. We held out hope. We held out hope.

But the unimaginable heartbreak of going through this nightmare, it didn't stop Ruby. Never stopped Ruby.

He has come to Congress multiple times to remind us of our responsibility to his son and to all of the hostages being held by Hamas.

His strength, your strength - Itay's parents, your resilience - it is an inspiration to us all.

Earlier this year, we learned that Itay was one of the many souls who Hamas brutally murdered. Again, beyond imagination.

And while it's been reported that he was killed 291 days ago, his body, his body is being held captive by the Hamas terrorists who murdered him.

And this has denied Ruby, it has denied Itay's parents and his family the right to bury him, to mourn him, and to sit shiva for him. It matters to the family.

He and his wife Hagit, and Itay's siblings, they've just been forced to live in grief and in limbo.

And it's a tragedy that no one should ever have to go through.

There is a proposed deal to free the hostages, and with reports of progress in these negotiations, now is the time to see it through to the end.

We must free the hostages - for Itay, for his family, for the seven other Americans held by Hamas.

For the remaining one hundred and twenty hostages from two dozen countries, hostages who are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, who are someone's sons or daughters, sisters or brothers, mothers, fathers, loved ones, who Hamas refuses to release. These are someone's loved ones. Hamas refuses to release them.

And as we continue to pursue every viable path to bring them home, we will continue to hold them in our hearts and hold Hamas's feet to the fire.

We stand with the hostages and their families.

They are not forgotten.

Our work isn't done until we bring them home.

Thank you again Senator Ernst for […] putting this all together today.

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