IDF confirms death of hostage Omer Neutra, a Long Island-born natural leader
Tank commander’s body was abducted to Gaza on October 7
On December 2, 2024, death of Cpt. Omer Maxim Neutra, 21, who was killed and abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Neutra, a so-called lone soldier from New York, served as a tank platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion on the Gaza border near the southern community of Nahal Oz. Until the announcement of his death, it had been believed that Neutra was held hostage alive. Below are initial reports of his capture and its aftermath:
Growing up in Long Island, New York, Omer Neutra was a fan of the Knicks, and was the captain of his high school basketball team, his volleyball team, and the soccer team, when necessary.
“That’s the kind of guy he is,” said his father, Ronen Neutra.
When Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, heard what was happening, the father scrambled to contact his son.
The parents weren’t able to reach their son and he was believed to have been taken captive by Hamas terrorists who massacred 1,200 people and kidnapped at least 250 others, including a number of US citizens.
Neutra decided to join the Israeli army after spending a gap year in Israel in 2020, putting off his plans to attend college at Binghamton University.
Ronen Neutra told CBS that his son is interested in peace-building and looked forward to returning to Long Island and college.
“They said that he’s been taken captive,” said Orna Neutra. “So many have died that it’s just insane that you feel relief to think that your son is not dead, you know?”
