Chen, a tank commander from Netanya, was abducted on October 7, 2023, when his unit was ambushed near Nahal Oz during Hamas’s surprise onslaught. His remains were identified last week following months of negotiations and forensic work by the IDF.

President Isaac Herzog hailed Chen as a “hero of Israel” and a “national symbol.”

“At long last, you have returned to us,” Herzog said. “After more than two years of longing and pain, we stand here, so many of us, to accompany you to your final rest. We learned from your parents what faith, love of people, and devotion to the homeland truly mean.”