Washington Post panned for accusing hostage’s parents of ignoring ‘assault on Gaza’
Newspaper later deletes tweet critical of Omer Neutra’s parents, who addressed RNC, but replaces it with one that still brands the Hamas captive as ‘missing’
The Washington Post faced heavy criticism Friday after it criticized the parents of American-Israeli hostage Omer Neutra for not mentioning “Israel’s assault on Gaza” as they addressed the Republican National Convention and called for his release. The paper also described Neutra who was captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7 as “missing.”
“Omer Neutra has been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel,” the paper posted on X with a link to their article about Neutra’s parents Ronen and Orna addressing the RNC in Milwaukee on Wednesday, leading the crowd in a chant of “bring them home.”
“When his parents speak publicly, they don’t talk about Israel’s assault on Gaza that has killed over 38,000 Palestinians, according to local officials. Experts have warned of looming famine,” the post said.
The post drew an immediate outcry.
Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, among Israel’s staunchest supporters in the Democratic party, slammed the newspaper on X.
“That the Washington Post would shame the parents of Omer Neutra for keeping their focus on the captivity of their son is beneath contempt,” wrote Torres.
“There is a taboo against any acknowledgment of Israeli victimhood because the Narrative, as opposed to the Truth, demands that Israel be seen only as the villain,” added Torres. “The willful amnesia about October 7th is no accident. Denial follows inevitably from demonization.”
That the Washington Post would shame the parents of Omer Neutra for keeping their focus on the captivity of their son is beneath contempt.
There is a taboo against any acknowledgment of Israeli victimhood because the Narrative, as opposed to the Truth, demands that Israel be… pic.twitter.com/HkGziJ1uug
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) July 19, 2024
“The parents of Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra have one goal: TRYING TO FREE THEIR SON from Hamas captivity. That’s all they need to say,” posted the American Jewish Committee.
“How could this tweet have been posted? Shame on The Washington Post for calling the Neutra’s morality into question,” the AJC said.
After an outcry, the Post later replaced that post.
“Omer Neutra, an American hostage in the Israel-Hamas war, has been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. His parents have mounted a relentless effort to get him released, speaking to anyone who might be able to support their cause,” the second post said.
“We’ve deleted a previous tweet for this story that mischaracterized the efforts of Neutra’s parents,” the Post added in a separate post.
But the paper’s efforts still drew ire as they continue to describe him as “missing.”
“This isn’t a game of hide and seek,” wrote Israel’s embassy in the United States on X. “Omer was KIDNAPPED to GAZA by HAMAS TERRORISTS and has been held captive in unimaginable conditions for over 9 months.”
On October 7, thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill nearly 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and take 251 hostages.
Israel’s offensive to destroy Hamas and free the captives has caused widespread destruction in Gaza. The Strip’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed. The figure, which cannot be independently verified, does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel maintains it has killed about 15,000 gunmen in Gaza and some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 attack.
Long Island-born Omer Neutra, whom friends describe as a “natural leader,” served as a tank commander near Gaza, having deferred his studies at Binghamton University to join the Israel Defense Force. He was kidnapped while defending southern Israel on October 7. Neutra is one of an 8 American citizens still held hostage by Hamas.
The Washington Post, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has recently also been accused of employing an antisemitic trope to criticize supporters of Israel.
In May, New York Deputy Mayor Fabian Levy said that he was “shocked” when the newspaper asked him to comment on its report that Jewish billionaires had influenced Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to send the NYPD to disperse an anti-Israel encampment at Columbia University.
“The insinuation that Jewish donors secretly plotted to influence government operations is an all too familiar antisemitic trope that The Washington Post should have been ashamed to ask about, let alone actually publish,” wrote Levy.
