Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old from Plainview, was confirmed dead by the Israeli military after being mistakenly believed to be held hostage in Gaza for nearly a year. His death occurred during the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, alongside the abduction of 251 other hostages, of which 97 are reported to still remain captive.
Neutra's parents, Ronen and Orna, led a vigorous public campaign advocating for their son's release, addressing protests and even the Republican National Convention, seeking assistance from the Biden administration and mobilizing support through social media.
The Israeli military confirmed that among the hostages, 35 are known to be dead and eight have been rescued alive. Omer Neutra was a platoon commander in the IDF's Armored Corps and had deferred university enrollment to serve.
In this somber moment, the nation joins Omer’s family in mourning. The military's statement implies an acknowledgment of the tragedy faced by families of hostages, highlighting the ongoing struggle to secure their safe return.
Collection
[
|
...
]