Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with the families of Omer Neutra and Itay Chen, two American-Israeli citizens whose bodies have been held hostage in Gaza since their deaths on October 7, 2023. The meeting took place in the context of continued international pressure on Hamas to release the remains of the deceased hostages and return living captives safely.
In his post on X, Rubio stated, “We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas. Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned.” He included a photo of the meeting, which also featured Huckabee, to underscore the U.S. commitment to the families and to the broader cause of hostage return.
Huckabee echoed Rubio’s sentiments, emphasizing that the U.S.-brokered peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza is moving forward. However, he noted that the successful execution of the plan depends on the release of all hostages. He highlighted the significance of the meeting, which he said was “very productive in moving forward” the peace initiative.
For the families, the meeting provided a rare opportunity to directly engage with senior U.S. officials who are tasked with ensuring the safe return of all hostages. Ruby Chen, the father of Itay, described the meeting as “important for us to receive energy from him after a number of days of no hostage releases.” He noted that the administration’s commitment to the cause was clear and that the conversation with Rubio would also be shared with the President during his upcoming visit to Qatar.
The families of both victims have been vocal advocates for the return of their sons’ remains, both during and after their captivity. Ruby Chen, in particular, mentioned that he had met with Rubio multiple times since the latter took office, showing the ongoing nature of these diplomatic efforts. Ronen Neutra, Omer’s father, provided additional insight into the potential motivations behind Hamas’s delay in releasing the remains. He suggested that the group might be extending the time to gain more operational freedom in areas that have seen a withdrawal of Israeli forces.
This issue has taken a heavy emotional toll on the families, with Ronen Neutra stating that he and his wife have been postponing the grieving process for the last two years. He expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Trump administration, acknowledging their commitment to the resolution of the conflict. The families have not only been working through personal loss but have also engaged in public advocacy, including speaking at major political conventions such as the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention in 2024.
It is worth noting that all of the living hostages have now been released from Gaza, though the remains of thirteen deceased hostages remain with Hamas. The Israeli government continues to demand the return of all remains, and international pressure remains high. These families have become prominent figures in the ongoing narrative of the conflict, their voices representing the human cost and the urgency for resolution.