Ruby Chen urges US Congress to investigate October 7 as families seek answers

Ruby Chen, the father of Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen, is calling on the US Congress to investigate the October 7 massacre, saying bereaved families are turning to Washington after Israel’s government has failed to establish an independent commission of inquiry.

Speaking to i24NEWS following a State Department memorial ceremony honoring the 46 American victims of the attack, Chen said the United States possesses intelligence and evidence that could enable lawmakers to launch an investigation.

“The United States has a large amount of knowledge, data, intelligence that they got from the Israelis and they possess independently,” he said, noting that American victims’ families had worked with FBI case managers alongside Israeli counterparts.

For Chen, whose son was murdered by Hamas on October 7 and whose body was held in Gaza for 760 days, an investigation must explain how Hamas was able to prepare and carry out the massacre — and why Israel failed to stop it.

“The IDF kind of gave us a minute-by-minute [account of] what happened to Itay, as well as to most of the victims,” he said. “But the question that all of us are asking is, how did this happen?”

Chen questioned how money flowing into Gaza had helped Hamas build its military capabilities and why Israel had been unprepared for the assault. He argued that congressional investigations into the deaths of Americans abroad offered a precedent for examining the October 7 attack.

He said some members of Congress had responded favorably to the proposal, although he did not name them or announce any formal commitment to establish an inquiry.

The appeal, he said, “comes out of despair” over the Israeli government’s failure to provide the answers families are seeking.

‘We want our loved ones to be remembered’

The State Department ceremony brought together victims’ relatives, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Admiral Brad Cooper and members of Congress, according to Chen.

He described a particularly emotional moment when Cooper wore a replica of Itay’s dog tag that Chen had given him. Cooper, who attended Itay’s funeral, told the gathering he had kept it close to his heart.

“What do we want? We want to be seen. We want our loved ones to be remembered,” Chen said.

Alongside remembrance, he called for accountability for those involved in financing the attack. Chen alleged that people associated with its financing were living in Turkey or Qatar and should be brought to justice in the United States.

In a post on X about the ceremony, he said Rubio and Lutnick had reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing those responsible and finding ways to continue honoring the American victims.

Chen says Trump expressed interest in attending

Chen also shared an account of a conversation between Lutnick and President Donald Trump ahead of the memorial.

According to Chen, Lutnick explained that he needed to attend the State Department ceremony when Trump asked him to join another event. After hearing what the gathering was for, Trump expressed interest in attending a future commemoration.

“I wanna come to the next time you guys do something like this,” Trump said, according to Chen.

Chen said he hoped the exchange signaled that the ceremony would become a recurring event, potentially with the president’s participation.

For the families, he said, securing an investigation remains central to their ability to move forward.

“Hopefully then we would be able to get the answers to allow us to fully begin our rehabilitation as we should.”