Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, 19, from Netanya, who was killed in battle and whose body was returned to Israel last week, will be laid to rest today (Sunday) at 11:00 AM at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul.

The funeral procession began this morning from the family home in Netanya, with the public invited to stand on the side of the road with Israeli flags and pay their last respects.

President Yitzhak Herzog paid tribute to Staff sergeant Itay Chen and expressed deep appreciation for the generation of Israel’s young warriors.

“I find myself moved again and again by this amazing generation – your generation, Itay,” said the president. “Look at what a glorious generation has risen up and become ours, look at what hidden light there is in this generation – diamonds one by one, lighthouses that shine for us from afar.”

Herzog added that this is a generation of wonderful girls and boys, “with hearts of gold, heroes of Israel, superheroes, the generation that will lead us towards a shared and better Israel tomorrow.”

Rabbi Ido Pachter, the Chen family’s Rabbi, praised the Chen family, their strength, their never giving up on their hope that they would bring Itay home. “Now,” he said, “is the time to cry.”

Rabbi Pachter, “We don’t always understand why things happen in our lives, but we must try and learn. What must we learn from Itay? He was one of the first fallen and one of the last to return home. He was killed in the Torah portion when Moses died and he was returned when we read about the death of Abraham. Moses and Abraham taught us how to live as a nation. These were the two biblical personalities who knew how to live with their siblings in peace. One does not need to be a genius to bring good to the world, it is enough to have a good heart. Do not hate, in your heart. We must always remember to be brothers.”

Steffen Seibert, Ambassador of Germany in Israel, “Standing here is the ultimate feeling of pain, knowing that you are officially dead. We hoped so much that Itay’s body would be returned to Israel, so that you would have a site for mourning. Today is a day of pain and of relief. From the videos and photographs we have seen, Itay was laughing and enjoying life. Chagit and Ruby, you were true fighters. Whenever we felt that we had reached a dead-end, you always thought of another way to try and find a way of bringing Itay and the other hostages back home.”

Neta Simon, Chen’s partner bade farewell, “In my heart you are still so alive. Everyone who knew you, knows what a great person you were. So much love, so much life. I realized what a special person you were. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for letting me be part of your special family. I am so proud of who you were and so proud that I was chosen to be your partner. You will be in my heart forever.”

Chagit, Itay’s mother, “For over two years I tried to keep you alive, even when they told me that you had not survived that terrible battle. I would not let them say ‘of blessed memory,’ or call you a ‘body.’ I was waiting to hug you and yesterday I finally had that chance. I’m sorry that you waited so long to come home. I told everyone what a wonderful person you are. I’m sorry that this is the end. I’m sorry that I can’t hug you anymore, that I can’t bake you chocolate chip cookies, can’t set the table for five, and much more. I won’t order a whole pizza for you alone in the middle of the night. You came home full and calm, wearing your t-shirt, to make sure we recognized you. I so wanted the end to be different. For you to come home alive. I hope that you know that I did everything I could that you wouldn’t stay in Gaza. I am glad you came home in my lifetime, so that we wouldn’t never know where you and live in constant uncertainty. I know that you always wanted us to be proud of you. I am so proud of you, Itay. I don’t know how to live with such a broken heart. I wanted you to come home, but not in a coffin.”

“You are a pure angel in the sky, with your grandparents and so many heroes of this war, and you are now here together. What a terrible journey we went through together. I am sure that you are making them all laugh up there. Matan returned home alive. Matan I hope that you can recover now that the entire Peretz Team are here in Israel.”

“Thank you for the honor of being your parents. Rest in peace. We will meet,” she concluded.

Ruby, Chen’s father, “How can we stand here at your grave and feel happiness and relief that you have come home? I prayed for another ending, but this was probably the least bad option. You were always strong and stubborn. Even as a young boy, you were always busy, as if you knew that your time was short. You were like lions, on the front line of battle. You managed the battle of your life, you saved so many civilians early on that terrible day. Not many people can be called ‘heroes,’ but you and Team Peretz are true heroes.”

“Our journey has been a long one to bring Itay home, but we found many allies, good people, that wanted to help us bring the hostages home. We will always be grateful to President Biden who called me, as a father, knowing that I am an orphan, and he said to me, ‘write down this number and call me whenever you need someone to talk to.’ There are many other good people, who got on a plane to be with us today.”

“God bless the incoming US team, including Steve Witkoff. We knew he wouldn’t give up until the last hostage came home, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, Sebastian Gorka and others.”

“Itay, you are of a new generation of Zionism. You set high standards of building a more moral state. We might need to build something else here, and we will make sure that the sacrifice of all heroes will not be in vain. We will try to increase the light that Itay left behind. Victory in this war is a brave decision to bring all hostages home and then to start renewing the faith of the nation in its leaders. Leaders who should be worthy to lead them to this place.”

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