Democratic Leader Schumer Will Bring Two Parents Of Israeli Hostages To The Joint Session; Continues To Advocate For Safe Return Of All Hostages
Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today announced that he will bring the parents of two New Yorkers who were tragically murdered on October 7th as his guests to the Joint Address. Leader Schumer continues to advocate for the safe return of all the hostages, including those who are deceased.
“It has been 514 days since Hamas’s vicious October 7th attacks against Israel: 514 days in which the hostages have remained in Hamas’s brutal captivity and the families of those held hostage and those murdered have suffered unimaginable pain,” said Leader Schumer. “I am honored to stand with Orna Neutra and Ruby Chen as we call on all relevant parties to take every action possible to bring home Omer, Itay, and every single hostage. The Neutra and Chen families have fought tireless for over 500 days and tragically learned long after October 7th that their loved ones had indeed been murdered on October 7th and their bodies kept captive. There is no time to waste. I will continue working for as long as it takes to finally bring every last hostage—and the remains of the hostages who are no longer with us—home at last.”
Leader Schumer’s Joint Address Guests:
Orna Neutra – Parent Of American – Israeli Hostage Omer Neutra
- Mother of 22-year-old Omer Neutra, who taken hostage during the Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas. On December 2, 2024, the IDF confirmed that Omer was tragically murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and his body kidnapped into Gaza.
- Omer was born and raised in Long Island New York. A loyal Knicks fan, he knew the stats of every player, led the local chapter of the United Synagogue Youth group, and served as captain of the basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams at the Schechter School of Long Island where he attended from first grade until high school graduation. After being accepted in too Binghamton university, Omer took a gap year in Israel and stayed to serve in the IDF.
Ruby Chen – Parent of American – Israeli Hostage Itay Chen
- Father of 19-year-old American-Israeli Itay Chen, who was taken hostage during the Oct. 7 terror attacks. After months of fighting for his return, Itay’s family learned was tragically murdered on the border of Gaza on Oct. 7.
- Born in the U.S., Itay grew up in Israel, in the city of Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv, and frequently visited his father’s hometown of Brooklyn, New York. He was a Boy Scout who played basketball and, like many teenagers, loved his PlayStation.
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