Story perspectives

Victims’ Families Urge Congress to Create Investigative Commission

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 2:32 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

American victims' families urged Congress to create an investigative commission.
The families made the appeal at a State Department memorial on the third anniversary, hosted by Secretary Marco Rubio.
Ruby Chen, father of slain Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen, urged a congressional inquiry.
He also called for prosecuting Hamas financiers he says remain free in Qatar and Turkey.
The proposal has not been adopted by Congress or President Donald Trump’s administration.

History

Historical Context

After the September 11 attacks, Congress and President Bush established the bipartisan 9/11 Commission in late 2002; chaired by Thomas Kean, it issued a 585-page report in July 2004 that identified intelligence failures and recommended reforms. The 2016 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act later let victims sue foreign sponsors. Victims of the Oct 7 Hamas assault now cite that precedent to demand a new congressional inquiry.

1 of 2

Story summary

American victims' families urged Congress to create an investigative commission.
The families made the appeal at a State Department memorial on the third anniversary, hosted by Secretary Marco Rubio.
Ruby Chen, father of slain Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen, urged a congressional inquiry.
He also called for prosecuting Hamas financiers he says remain free in Qatar and Turkey.
The proposal has not been adopted by Congress or President Donald Trump’s administration.

1 / 2