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Parents of 2 US citizens demand return of their sons’ bodies and all deceased hostages held by Hamas in Gaza
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Two Americans were still among the deceased hostages held by Hamas on Wednesday, as the Palestinian terror group failed to meet the terms of President Trump’s peace plan.
Nineteen-year-old U.S.-Israeli dual citizen Itay Chen was initially believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, while serving along the Gaza border, but was later declared dead by the IDF. His body is still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Capt. Omer Neutra, 21, a fellow American-Israeli from New York, was killed in battle that same day, and his body remains in captivity.
TRUMP ISSUES DIRE WARNING TO HAMAS: IF THEY DON’T DISARM ‘WE WILL DISARM THEM’
Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old American-Israeli, who served as a platoon commander in the Armored Corps, was confirmed dead by the Israel Defense Forces on Monday. He died Oct. 7, IDF said. (Israel Defense Forces/X)
«This two-year emotional roller coaster has reached one of its highest peaks,» said Ronen Neutra, father of Omer Neutra, in an interview with Fox News Digital.
On Monday, Neutra met with Trump for an hour during the president’s visit to Israel.
«We voiced our concern that no deceased hostage should remain in Gaza. We know we’re dealing with a terror organization that exploits every grey area in any deal. While the living hostages were returned as agreed, we’re already seeing violations,» Neutra said. «The president assured us he would do everything to bring our children home.»
Earlier Wednesday, Neutra and his wife went to sleep only at 3 a.m, after learning that the four bodies released by Hamas once again did not include their son — and that one of them wasn’t even a hostage.
The U.S. hostage families met incoming SPEHA Director Adam Boehler. The families thanked President Trump and his administration for all they have done on the hostage crisis including securing the release of additional hostages than detailed in the current hostage framework. Boehler shared his commitment to release the U.S. hostages in Gaza. From left to right: Ronen Neutra, Jonathan Dekel Chen, Adi Alexander, Orna Neutra, Yael Alexander, Adam Boehler and Ruby Chen (Ruby Chen)
«I expect the United States to exert strong pressure on the mediators,» Neutra told Fox News Digital. «We’ve heard that Washington has spoken directly with Hamas in Egypt, and we demand full implementation of the agreement — or serious consequences: halting humanitarian aid, and stopping the movement of goods and people through the Rafah Crossing.
«Our expectation is for President Trump to ensure that the two American citizens still held by Hamas — our son Omer and Itay Chen — are brought home for burial,» he continued. «After two years of fighting for this, we deserve closure — and our son deserves proper burial in the land he loved and defended.»
TRUMP HAS FREED MORE THAN 70 US HOSTAGES IN LESS THAN A YEAR; BIDEN RELEASED AROUND 70 IN FOUR YEARS
Ruby Chen addressed the U.N. Security Council, calling for more action to bring the hostages home from Gaza. Ruby’s son Itay is still being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. (Bianca Otero)
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas was obligated to return all 28 bodies alongside the 20 living captives freed on Monday. However, the terror group has so far delivered only seven bodies — four on Monday and three more on Tuesday night — in clear violation of the deal.
«There is a diplomatic effort to make sure the agreement is fulfilled,» said Ruby Chen, the father of Itay Chen, father of the other remaining American held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
«Hamas did not provide the majority of the hostages yesterday, and we — the families — are, of course, very disappointed,» he continued. «Especially as an American citizen, I’m disappointed that the United States was not able to bring my son back. We demand that the window of opportunity that exists today to release the remaining hostages not be lost.»
Ruby Chen’s son, IDF Sergeant Itay Chen was serving along the Gaza border when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. (IDF)
«The U.S. and the mediators must put pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages,» Chen added, «and leverage the agreed-upon components — such as the release of Palestinian prisoners and the reopening of the Rafah Crossing.»
The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that one of the four bodies Hamas returned to Israel late Tuesday did not belong to any of the identified hostages.
IDF SAYS BODY TURNED OVER BY HAMAS DOESN’T MATCH ANY HOSTAGES
Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of U.S.-Israeli citizen Omer Neutra held hostage in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
President Donald Trump delivered a sharp warning to Hamas on Tuesday, vowing that the U.S. would act if the terrorist group fails to lay down its arms.
«They said they were going to disarm, and if they don’t, we will disarm them,» Trump told reporters at the White House while meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei.
Prof. Hagai Levine, head of the Health Team for the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, described the emotional toll on families still awaiting news.
Hamas hands over 11 Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City, Gaza on Nov. 27, 2023. (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«It has a tremendous psychological impact — families cannot move forward until there is certainty, a proper burial, and full confidence regarding the fate of their loved ones,» Levine told Fox News Digital.
«That’s why bringing back all hostages — living and deceased — is critical for families, and for the nation as a whole, to begin healing,» he added.
Levine explained that the identification and verification process for deceased hostages is carried out at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv.
«I’m in close contact with the staff at the institute,» he said. «We have complete trust in them. They use advanced technology and multiple methods for identification — including individual markings, unique tattoos, fingerprints, DNA comparison with pre-acquired family samples, and full-body CT scans.»
He cautioned that the process could take time, citing previous cases such as that of Shiri Bibas, whose body Hamas initially substituted with that of a Gazan woman before eventually returning her actual remains.
The bodies of American citizens Itay Chen, left, and Omer Neutra, right, have not yet been returned to Israel by Hamas. (The Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
«Receiving the news is also a critical and emotional moment,» Levine continued. «It can bring a measure of relief and closure, but it’s also an extremely stressful time — and we’re there to support the families. Those still waiting fear their loved ones will be forgotten. The mission isn’t complete until everyone is brought back to Israel.»
Israel’s Kan 11 reported on Tuesday, citing Qatari media, that Egyptian teams had begun assisting in efforts to locate the remains of deceased hostages in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum sent a letter to U.S. Middle East Envoy Witkoff, expressing their gratitude.
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«We are immensely grateful and overjoyed to see 20 of our loved ones back home, finally reuniting with the families who have fought tirelessly for their return for so long. However, what we feared is now happening before our eyes. Only four deceased hostages are coming home today,» the letter said.
«We must ensure that all remaining hostages come home. We cannot rest, and we know you will not rest, until every last hostage is returned,» it added.
israel,terrorism,middle east,donald trump,conflicts
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«The water bill went up. The light bill went up. Now property taxes — what exactly are we doing here?»
This was one of many cries of worry and frustration voiced by New York City residents at a recent public meeting, where they said that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s policies since taking office have made life more expensive. The backlash is significant as Mamdani, like many Democrats who swept into office in November, campaigned explicitly on making life more affordable for constituents.
It’s not just in New York. Like Mamdani, Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger campaigned as a vocal critic of Republican economic policies. Now, she is facing voter outrage as costs in the Old Dominion continue to rise, and an economic climate that is increasingly seen as hostile to businesses drives away some of the biggest contributors to the tax base.
The trend underscores mounting political risk for Democrats, who will now need to demonstrate that they’re keeping their promises ahead of the midterms.
New York’s ‘one-two wealth destruction punch’
Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani placed affordability at the center of his campaign to lead America’s largest city. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis/Getty Images)
In New York City — the world’s financial capital and home to nearly 9 million — rising costs have national consequences.
Residents say Mamdani is backtracking on campaign promises to lower housing costs, pointing to a proposed property tax hike, rising water bills and higher electricity costs as signs that life is only getting more expensive.
With the city’s housing market already under strain, where demand far exceeds available supply, critics say Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze could discourage new construction, tighten inventory and push prices higher over time.
MAMDANI BUDGET POURS MILLIONS INTO DEI OFFICES AND CUTS 5,000 NYPD JOBS
For tenants and homeowners, Mamdani’s changes could mean fewer housing options and higher costs over time. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
«Economists — whether they are on the right or on the left — essentially are in universal agreement that when the government implements price controls in the rental market, you end up with housing shortages,» said E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation.
Antoni argued the city’s affordability challenges are largely policy-driven. «If we look at the ways in which New York City is more expensive than other places around the country, it is chiefly due to bad public policy that has imposed those costs,» he said, adding that «doubling down on those government failures will only make it worse.»
Edward Pinto, a senior fellow and co-director of the AEI Housing Center at the American Enterprise Institute, said Mamdani’s proposal to freeze rents and increase property taxes in New York would be a «one-two wealth destruction punch.»
MAMDANI’S ESTATE TAX PLAN COULD DRIVE WEALTH OUT OF STATE, CRITICS WARN
Economists warn that Mamdani’s housing proposal will exacerbate affordability issues in the nation’s largest city. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
«The rent freeze would drive multifamily property values down and the increase in property taxes would drive both multifamily and single-family values down. At the same time, the construction of new supply would contract and property upkeep would diminish as repairs are deferred and improvements are not made,» Pinto said.
For tenants and homeowners, those shifts could translate into fewer housing options and higher long-term costs.
When asked about Mamdani’s latest proposal — an estate tax plan that could pull middle-class families into a levy long aimed at the wealthy — Pinto warned it would deal a new blow to the city.
«This proposal would destroy NYC’s wealth in a different manner,» Pinto said. «This estate tax proposal will mistreat capital and result in the voluntary exodus of NYC residents and their wealth to places like Florida and Tennessee,» he added.
Virginia: ‘Particularly determined to raise the tax burden’
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger offers the Democratic response to the State of the Union. (Mike Kropf/Getty Images)
Despite the fact that Spanberger campaigned on affordability in Virginia, lawmakers from her party in Richmond are advancing a sweeping set of tax proposals that will raise costs for residents and businesses.
They propose more than 50 taxes targeting income, investment and everyday economic activity, from joining a gym to bringing pets to the groomers.
«This is part of a broader picture we’re seeing across blue states,» said Jack Salmon, a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University focusing on tax and fiscal policy. «These states seem particularly determined to raise the tax burden on their highest-earning taxpayers.»
At the center are changes to Virginia’s tax structure. One bill would raise top income tax rates to as high as 10%, while another would impose a 3.8% tax on investment income.
CONSERVATIVE STATES SEE LOWER INFLATION THAN LIBERAL ONES NATIONWIDE, WHITE HOUSE DATA SHOWS
For some high earners, those levies could stack — pushing rates to 13.8% and moving Virginia closer to high-tax states.
Lawmakers are also considering a range of new taxes and fees across the economy, from higher sales taxes and levies on deliveries and rideshare services to taxes on everyday services like repairs, gym memberships, dry cleaning and dog grooming, along with new taxes on large employers.
Adding to the strain are rising energy costs. A Dominion Energy rate hike that took effect Jan. 1 reflects, in part, the costs of transitioning to offshore wind under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) — a policy that could result in higher utility bills for customers.
Spanberger has also moved to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon pricing program her predecessor, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, exited — a move critics warn will increase the burden on household energy bills.
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The mounting costs are already drawing concern from business leaders. Aerospace giant Boeing plans to move its headquarters from Virginia to Missouri, a shift expected to hit the state’s tax base and business climate.
Even if the immediate fiscal impact is limited, the loss of high-paying headquarters jobs and the spending they support is expected to erode tax revenues and create ripple effects across the local economy, from reduced consumer spending to weaker demand for services.
With costs rising and frustration mounting, voters will soon decide whether those promises still hold — or whether change is coming in November.
Mamdani and Spanberger’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
zohran mamdani, new york city, abigail spanberger, taxes, midterm elections
El Ejército de Israel asegura haber matado a unos 850 miembros del grupo chií Hezbollah en el Líbano, donde las autoridades elevan el total de fallecidos a alrededor de 1.250 desde que comenzaron los ataques israelíes al país.
“Hemos eliminado a más de 850 terroristas de Hezbollah. De ellos, 230 de la Fuerza Radwan (el cuerpo de élite de la organización)”, dijo durante una videoconferencia ante los medios el portavoz castrense Nadav Shoshani.
El Ministerio de Salud libanés elevó el lunes a 1.247 los muertos en el país por ataques israelíes, entre ellos 124 niños. En los últimos días Israel ha bombardeado hasta en tres ocasiones de forma deliberada ambulancias y centros médicos, matando a al menos 52 personas.
Otro ataque en el sur del Líbano mató recientemente a los periodistas Ali Shaib y Fatima y Mohamed Fatuni. Mientras que el Ejército israelí ha asegurado que el primero pertenecía a Hezbollah sin publicar pruebas verificables, aún no se ha pronunciado sobre los dos últimos.
El portavoz aseguró que el grupo chií ha disparado contra Israel hasta 5.000 municiones, entre drones, y misiles, que han matado hasta el momento a dos civiles israelíes en el norte del país.
Además, diez soldados han muerto en la operación terrestre en el sur del Líbano desde que Israel profundizó su invasión del sur del país hace un mes. Los últimos cuatro, anunciados este martes.
Hasta el momento, cinco divisiones del Ejército operan en el sur del Líbano, según el diario The Times of Israel: la 162 hace incursiones y la 146 tiene una posición defensiva en el área occidental; la 91 y la 36 mantienen ofensivas en la parte oriental y la 210 está posicionada en el Monte Dov (en la frontera entre los Altos del Golán sirios, ocupados, y el Líbano).
Una sexta, la 98 se prepara para desplegarse en el país vecino en el marco de la expansión anunciada por el Gobierno israelí de la “zona de seguridad” en el sur del Líbano, en referencia al territorio que ocupa militarmente para las operaciones de las tropas.
“En muchos casos actuamos en zonas fronterizas, pero en algunos casos llevamos a cabo redadas y operaciones selectivas en otras aldeas”, aseguró el portavoz.
Por su parte, el primer ministro de Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ha afirmado este martes que la ofensiva lanzada a finales de febrero junto a Estados Unidos contra Irán se encuentra ya a “medio camino”, pero ha descartado matizar una fecha concreta para su fin.
En este sentido, ha aclarado durante una entrevista con la cadena de televisión estadounidense Newsmax que los objetivos de la guerra “se han superado más allá del ecuador” a pesar de rechazar “fijar un calendario” concreto para que los ataques terminen
Netanyahu ha insistido en que el objetivo principal de esta guerra son las “reservas de uranio enriquecido” de Irán y se ha mostrado optimista en lo referente a la ofensiva conjunta, la cual considera que “ha aportado avances significativos en el proceso de desmantelamiento de las capacidades iraníes”.
Además, ha aclarado que el objetivo “más importante” es “impedir que Teherán adquiera armas nucleares”. “Hemos superado el ecuador en cuanto al éxito de la misión”, ha recalcado, al tiempo que ha citado “éxitos” como el “debilitamiento de la infraestructura militar, nuclear e industrial de Irán”.
“Ya hemos mermado su capacidad balística, destruido fábricas y eliminado a científicos nucleares clave”, ha incidido el primer ministro israelí, que ha añadido que estos esfuerzos han hecho “retroceder de forma significativa las ambiciones” iraníes.
Es por ello que ha subrayado que la campaña militar “no solo tiene como objetivo debilitar a Irán en el presente sino también prevenir un futuro mucho más peligroso”. “Están buscando armas nucleares y los medios para lanzarlas contra ciudades estadounidenses”, ha advertido, no sin antes destacar que “de eso trata esta guerra, de evitar ese desenlace”.
El mandatario israelí ha aseverado que la fase actual de la operación se centra en “retirar el uranio enriquecido de Irán, un paso clave que podría detener de forma permanente su capacidad para fabricar un arma nuclear. La atención se centra en sus reservas de uranio enriquecido”, ha sostenido, al tiempo que ha matizado que el propio presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, ha exigido que el material sea retirado del país y entregado a terceros.
(Con información de EFE)
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit the United States next month to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, according to Buckingham Palace.
Officials said the trip will highlight historic ties and the modern bilateral relationship between the two nations, with full details of the itinerary to be announced closer to the visit.
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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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