The United Nations Security Council held its meeting on returning the bodies of slain hostages to Israel on Thursday.
Ruby Chen, the father of slain hostage Itay Chen, began by describing his son and explaining how he was taken hostage. But he noted that Hamas has been engaging in the " lowest form of terrorist psychological warfare imaginable" by refusing to confirm Itay's status.
"In March 2024, my family was notified by the IDF that Itay most likely did not survive the October 7 attack. But for over 19 months, Hamas has not been willing to acknowledge that my son is in their possession or what his physical status is," Ruby Chen said.
"What my family have been subjected to—the deliberate withholding of information about our son’s fate, the refusal to return him to us, the silence—has been a form of slow, enduring psychological torture."
Chen pushes UNSC to act on Resolution 2474
In his address, Chen urged the council to uphold Resolution 2474, which addresses the return of the remains of missing persons held by hostile parties during armed conflict. The resolution states that both state and non-state actors, like Hamas, must provide accounts for missing people during periods of conflict.
"Hamas, by refusing to provide information or access to hostages, even to peacekeeping entities such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is in clear violation of this resolution and of international law," he said. Chen added that the resolution gave the UNa "legal and moral framework" to condemn Hamas and sanction its financial backers, namely Iran.
"We are asking and expecting the UN to uphold the very resolution it passed—to implement it with real consequences," Chen said. "Resolution 2474 must not remain symbolic—it must become enforceable.
"We want Itay back, and his physical status, whatever it might be, does not make him any less of a hostage."
Ruby and Hagit Chen also met with FBI Director Kash Patel to discuss how the US agency can aid hostage deal negotiation efforts, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported on Thursday.
Patel also reportedly expressed his commitment to bringing the remaining American hostages' remains home.
'We are asking for something simple' Danny Danon says
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Dannon, said, "The UN Security Council is currently convening for a special discussion on the return of hostages' bodies. At the opening of the session, Ruby Chen, the father of kidnapped soldier Itay Chen, will brief the Council’s ambassadors. In my speech, I will emphasize that Hamas has turned the kidnapping of bodies into an industry — and the silence of the international community must end."
The UN Security Council is currently convening for a special discussion on the return of hostages' bodies. At the opening of the session, Ruby Chen, father of kidnapped soldier Itay Chen, will brief the Council’s ambassadors.In my speech, I will emphasize that Hamas has turned… pic.twitter.com/4s9LW6NVq0
— Danny Danon דני דנון (@dannydanon) May 15, 2025
"You cannot advocate for human rights while accepting the holding of bodies by a terrorist organization. We are asking for something simple, moral, and human: bring them all home," he concluded.