‘You came here alone, enlisted and fought”: President eulogizes tank commander Omer Neutra

Tank commander Omer Maxim Neutra is laid to rest at the Kiryat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv.

His parents and brother recited the Kaddish prayer, dressed in black t-shirts bearing Omer’s image, with yellow ribbon pins and pieces of masking tape with the number 763, to mark the days of captivity of the remaining six deceased captives.

President Isaac Herzog gave the first eulogy, offering his deep thanks to the “hero” finally being brought to rest.

“Most of us here didn’t get to meet you personally,” says Herzog. “But all of us, the whole nation, feel that you are an indelible part of our lives because you chose us when you came here alone, enlisted and fought.”

Herzog speaks of Neutra’s Zionism and decision to postpone college studies to become a lone soldier and then a combat soldier.

“We waited to bury you, to give you, the Neutra family, a place to honor and cry and unite with Omer after more than two years of pain,” says Herzog. “It’s a certain kind of painful closure.”

Herzog describes the battle that Neutra’s tank crew fought on October 7, “from Nirim to Nir Oz.”

“You knew you were risking your lives but fought, preventing many more terrorists from entering more of Israel’s territory,” says Herzog. “It was a battle of life and death.”

He speaks of the courageous struggle on the part of each member of the Neutra family, how they “knocked on every door,” and became known in every place where decisions are made.

“I promise you that Omer’s memory will be engraved in our memories forever,” says Herzog.