This July 4th, a family waits: American hostage’s father pleads for son's freedom from Hamas terrorists

This Fourth of July, while most celebrate freedom, the father of 19-year-old hostage Itay calls for action to bring home his son and 49 others still held by Hamas after 637 days.

Ruby is the father of Itay Chen, a 19-year-old Israeli-American who was taken captive by the Hamas terrorist organization on Oct. 7, 2023. Although the Israel Defense Force believes Itay may have been killed, Ruby, who lives in Israel with his wife, Hagit, and their two other children, continues to hold out hope his son is alive.

On this day, we must look past the haze of fireworks and remember that the Fourth of July is about something more. It’s about celebrating our hard-fought, long-defended freedom and knowing that an attack on the freedom of any American – and taking them hostage – is an attack on the freedom of us all. Taking U.S. citizens as hostages should be a liability, not an asset, with severe consequences attached. So long as Hamas holds U.S. citizens, we are letting evil and terrorism win.