Ruby Chen, the father of 19-year-old Israeli-American hostage Itay Chen, is tirelessly advocating for the release of his son and over 100 others being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Itay Chen, a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces, was taken captive during the surprise Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, while stationed at a base near the Gaza border.
"This number on my chest is a reminder that changes every day," Ruby Chen told Local 10 News in an exclusive interview Saturday, referring to the growing count of days since his son was taken captive.
Itay Chen had joined the IDF at 18 and was tasked with protecting civilians near the border. On that fateful day, Hamas forces overran his base.
"They protected a lot of lives," Ruby Chen said. "But at the end, they were outnumbered and taken hostage."
