Captain Omer Neutra, 21, from New York, was killed in battle on October 7, 2023 and “his body has been held hostage in Gaza ever since,” Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on social media.
The American-Israeli served as a tank platoon commander in the Armored Corps 77th Battalion, 7th Brigade, the IDF said Monday.
“May his memory be a blessing,” reads a message to X.
He said Neutra was from Long Island ABC7 New York. The media reported that he was killed during the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel.
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Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old American-Israeli who served as a platoon commander in the Armored Corps, was declared dead by the Israeli military on Monday. He died on October 7, IDF said. (Israeli Armed Forces/X)
Prior to the IDF announcement, Neutra was believed to be alive and being held hostage.
Because Neutra’s body is being held hostage, he is believed to be one of seven American hostages held in Gaza. Their families were once again going through another Thanksgiving dinner with an empty seat on Thursday after calling for their release to be prioritized.
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Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli, was serving in the IDF when he was allegedly captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023. (Orna & Ronen Neutra)
Ceasefire negotiations have all but collapsed, while Israel’s military campaign to defeat Hamas continues.
Many are hopeful that even if the Biden administration fails to secure the release of the hostages before he leaves office in January, the coming Trump administration could bring about a change in negotiations and secure the release of the hostages.
Omer Neutra is an American citizen whose body is being held captive by Hamas. (Fox News Digital)
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President-elect Trump said during the campaign: “We want our hostages back, and they better be back before I take office or you will pay a very high price.”
This includes the other American hostages still held in Gaza Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judi Weinstein Haggai And Keith Siegel.
Caitlin McFall and Ben Evansky of Fox News contributed to this report.
