The Israeli military said Monday that Omer Neutra, a dual American Israeli citizen who was serving in the Israeli Defense Forces during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, died that day.
The 21-year-old was previously thought to have been taken hostage, sparking hope he might one day come home alive along with the roughly 100 other people believed to still be in Hamas’ captivity.
It’s unclear why the Israeli military refrained from clarifying that Neutra was deceased until today, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz writing on social media that Neutra “fell in a heroic battle” on Oct. 7.
Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, told CNN last week they’d hoped the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon might lead to progress on a similar agreement with Hamas and the release of their son.
“We have seen that attention both in Israel and around the world was taken from the war in Gaza to the war in Lebanon in the last four or five months, and that was a concern to us,” Ronen Neutra said. “But at the same time, we are disappointed that it was not combined with a hostage deal, which is really the most urgent element right now. We consider it a missed opportunity.”
NurPhoto via Getty Images
The two also visited President Joe Biden at the White House less than a month ago, where presumably they made a similar plea.
Biden paid tribute to Omer Neutra, a Long Island native, in a statement Monday, saying he and first lady Jill Biden were “devastated and outraged” to learn of Neutra’s death.
“Less than a month ago, Omer’s mother and father joined me at the White House to share the pain they’ve endured as they prayed for the safe return of their son — pain no parent should ever know,” Biden said. “They told me how Omer’s grandparents were Holocaust survivors and how their family’s strength and resilience has been carried through the generations.”
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“During this dark hour — as our nation joins Omer’s parents, brother, and family in grieving this tragic loss — we pray to find strength and resilience,” he continued. “And to all the families of those still held hostage: We see you. We are with you. And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong.”
