My son was one of 46 Americans murdered by Hamas. We need a US investigation

This past play we recognized Memorial Day and saluted American soldiers and citizens who defended our state against evil and coercion crossed the globe. My lad Itay was 19 years aged erstwhile Hamas murdered him connected Oct. 7, 2023. He was the youngest U.S. national taken hostage that day. He was an American. He was an Israeli. He was my child.

Almost a 1000 days person passed since that greeting — 966 days of unanswered questions. Grief does not extremity with an investigation. But without one, determination tin beryllium nary accountability and nary rehabilitation.

I americium not penning arsenic a Democrat oregon Republican. I americium penning arsenic a begetter and arsenic an American who believes this state has and indispensable proceed to basal by its citizens.

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America has investigated before

The United States has a agelong contented of investigating the deaths of its citizens successful struggle zones. After 4 Americans were killed successful Benghazi successful 2012, Congress launched 8 abstracted investigations, including a bipartisan Select Committee that conducted a two-year inquiry. After 19 American work members were killed successful the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing successful Saudi Arabia, the House National Security Committee opened a ceremonial investigation, traveled overseas and issued a elaborate nationalist report.

Itay Chen was 1 of 46 Americans murdered by Hamas. He is seen present with his parent Hagit Chen (left) and begetter Ruby Chen (right). (With support from the Chen family)

Four Americans. Nineteen Americans. Their tragic deaths did not spell unexamined.

On October 7, 46 Americans were killed connected the Gaza borderline — much than 10 times the Benghazi toll. Yet Congress has not established a ceremonial bipartisan investigative committee.

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The precedent exists. The tools exist. The soundlessness should not.

The model is closing

Every time without an probe is simply a time wherever grounds degrades and memories fade. Digital records disappear. Witnesses relocate.

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We are seeking justice, but not lone for those who carried retired the murders. Also for those who financed, enabled and equipped them arsenic well. That requires a superior enquiry with subpoena powerfulness and resources — not statements of sympathy.

There is nary amended clip than now. The longer Congress waits, the harder the information becomes to establish.

Israel volition not capable this gap

I person heavy ties to Israel. My lad wore the azygous of its equipped forces. But unfortunately, for mostly governmental reasons, the Israeli authorities has not prioritized a broad probe into the deaths of implicit 2,000 of its ain citizens connected October 7, including 46 Americans. Given Israel’s home politics, meaningful accountability is improbable successful the adjacent term.

I don’t expect the existent Israeli authorities to alteration its stripes. However, I americium asking the United States to bash what lone it can: enactment connected behalf of its ain citizens.

THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, AMERICA’S DEBT TO THE FALLEN STILL REMAINS

On October 7, 46 Americans were killed connected the Gaza borderline — much than 10 times the Benghazi toll. Yet Congress has not established a ceremonial bipartisan investigative committee.

This is not astir politics

This telephone is astir a elemental principle: When Americans are killed successful a warfare zone, Congress has a work to find what happened, wherefore it happened and who bears responsibility.

That work does not vanish due to the fact that geopolitics are complicated. It does not intermission due to the fact that allies whitethorn beryllium implicated. American lives cannot beryllium taxable to selective accountability.

For decades, the United States has operated connected a wide standard: kidnapping and sidesplitting Americans indispensable transportation consequences. That rule indispensable use consistently — whether the perpetrators are terrorists, their sponsors oregon immoderate authoritative whose decisions contributed to preventable nonaccomplishment of life.

A bipartisan committee is the close vehicle

The due mechanics is simply a ceremonial bipartisan legislature committee, modeled connected past precedents. Republicans who champion American sovereignty and the extortion of citizens abroad, and Democrats who basal for oversight and accountability, should find communal origin here.

Ruby Chen's son, IDF Sergeant Itay Chen was serving on the Gaza borderline erstwhile helium was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists connected Oct. 7. (IDF)

Such a committee would transportation the authorization of Congress — including subpoena powerfulness and investigative resources. Its mandate indispensable beryllium straightforward: Follow the grounds wherever it leads and clasp accountable each those liable for the deaths of American citizens.

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This is not a Democratic demand. It is not a Republican demand. It is an American demand.

Over 966 days person passed. The grounds is aging. The families are inactive waiting.

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I cannot bring my lad back. But I tin importune that his decease — and the deaths of 45 different Americans — not beryllium overlooked.

Congress indispensable act. Together. Now. For America.

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