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The fight to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas has taken a deeply personal turn for Ruby Chen, father of 19-year-old U.S.-Israeli soldier Itay Chen, who was taken hostage during the October 7 attacks. Speaking at Calcalist’s Mind The Tech conference in New York, Chen issued a powerful call to action, urging governments to “follow the money” and cut off funding to the terrorist organization. His remarks highlighted the importance of addressing Hamas’ financial network as a critical step toward ending the group’s reign of terror.
Summary:
Ruby Chen, speaking at a major tech conference in New York, voiced his frustration with the ongoing hostage crisis, which has now stretched for over 500 days. His son, Itay Chen, was taken hostage during the October 7 Hamas attacks, and Chen has become a vocal advocate for those suffering in similar circumstances.
At the event, Chen emphasized the need to target the financial backbone of Hamas. He explained that the organization’s extensive global financing network fuels its operations, including paying salaries to its supporters, and that dismantling this economic structure is vital to rendering Hamas illegitimate. According to Chen, cutting off this “oxygen” is the key to ending their hold over innocent lives.
In addition to advocating for financial measures, Chen expressed dismay over the apparent lack of urgency from Israel in hostage negotiations. He pointed out that foreign governments seemed to be taking a more active role than Israel itself, and he questioned whether military pressure alone could guarantee the safe return of hostages. His comments underscored the idea that the release of hostages requires more than sympathy—it requires concrete, decisive action.
For over 500 days, Chen has been tirelessly pushing for action, traveling to cities like Doha, Washington DC, Munich, and Israel to meet with negotiators and raise the issue of hostages. He encouraged the public to demand their representatives take action, saying, “I’ll keep asking until we see the last hostage come home.”
What Undercode Says:
Ruby Chen’s remarks are a stark reminder of the long-term, deeply personal suffering experienced by families caught in the web of global terrorism. His focus on the financial network that sustains groups like Hamas highlights a crucial aspect of the broader battle against terrorism—stripping away its financial support can weaken these organizations to a significant extent.
Chen’s call to “follow the money” brings attention to an underexplored yet critical area in counterterrorism. While military actions are important, they do not directly address the core issue of Hamas’ financial resilience. Targeting this infrastructure could weaken Hamas’ ability to recruit, pay fighters, and fund operations, potentially forcing them into negotiations or reducing their capacity for violence.
Chen also brings to light an uncomfortable truth: while Israel is directly involved in the negotiation efforts, the absence of a more proactive stance could be prolonging the agony of hostage families. The fact that international voices may seem louder than the state’s own is a sign of inefficiency and missed opportunities for action.
The global community, too, must play its part in pressuring Israel and other governments to prioritize the safe return of hostages. This is not just a political issue, but a human rights one, as these families continue to live through the nightmare of uncertain fates.
Fact Checker Results:
- Ruby Chen’s focus on targeting Hamas’ financial network aligns with current counterterrorism strategies that emphasize cutting off resources to terrorist organizations.
- The claim that foreign governments are more active than Israel in negotiations is plausible, as several international diplomatic efforts have been reported.
- The 536-day timeline is consistent with reported hostage crises related to the October 7 attacks.
References:
Reported By: Calcalistechcom_0cd4683fafd18a6400d6c14b
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