IDF: Plainview native Omer Neutra declared dead in Oct. 7 attacks
Omer Neutra, 21, was a Long Island native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel.
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The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza.
Omer Neutra, 21, was a Long Island native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel. Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release.
In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive
In late summer, Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin, another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza, around two-thirds believed to be alive.
RELATED: A conversation with Ronen and Orna Neutra – parents of a Hamas hostage from Long Island
Neutra's parents and brother released the following statement, "Over the past 423 days — nearly 14 months — we have been working non-stop doing anything and everything possible to bring Omer home alive. It was an unimaginable nightmare to be acting based on the hope that he was alive, despite having little information or signs of life since he was seen on video being taken on October 7th. Our beloved son Omer was a natural leader who made others around him better with his warmth and ability to engage and encourage others to be their best. He was deeply committed to both the people and land of Israel and immigrated to Israel out of that same deep commitment. On the morning of Simchat Torah — October 7th — he and his team were the first in the line of fire — operating in an isolated, disabled tank — while attempting to defend the border and protect the local residents and workers under siege. We are so proud of how Omer fought to the end. We are grateful that Omer embraced and lived his life in line with the values on which we raised him — protecting the sanctity of life and an understanding of our commitment to one another — but we never imagined in our worst nightmares that we would find ourselves spending this time continuing to fight for him in this way. In the 423 days since October 7th, we expected our leaders to demonstrate the same courage displayed so bravely by Omer and rise to the occasion on behalf of those who were killed and kidnapped, just as our beloved Omer showed until the very end. While we appreciate the support we have received from so many in our community, in New York, in Israel and across the world, the feeling today is very difficult. The grief is heavy. Sadly, time has run out to bring Omer home alive and words alone have no power to comfort. Leadership will only be revealed in actions and results going forward. We call upon the Israeli government to work with President Biden and President-elect Trump, to use all of their leverage and resources to return all 101 hostages — living and the deceased — to their families as soon as possible.”
A memorial was held for Neutra on Monday evening.
