The Prime Minister’s Office announced Wednesday morning that the body of Armored Corps Staff-Sgt. Itay Chen, HY”D, has been returned to Israel.

The identification was completed by the National Center of Forensic Medicine in coordination with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate. IDF representatives have notified the Chen family of the completion of the process.

“The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Chen family and all the families of the fallen hostages,” the statement read. “The State of Israel remains determined and committed to bringing every one of our hostages home for proper burial. We will not rest until the mission is complete.”

The PMO added that the Hamas terror group is required to uphold its commitments to mediators and return all remaining bodies as part of the existing agreement.

Staff-Sgt. Chen, an Israeli-American dual national, was the last American hostage held in Gaza, following the return of slain hostage Omer Neutra, HY”D, on Sunday. According to reports, Chen’s remains were discovered east of the Shejaia neighborhood in Gaza.

To date, Hamas has released the last 20 living hostages and the bodies of 21 deceased hostages, with seven bodies still believed to be in the Strip.

The process of locating and identifying the fallen has been slow and complex, involving international coordination and forensic work.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)