A Long Island family has received official confirmation that their 21-year-old son, Omer Neutra, was among more than 100 people held hostage by Hamas.
A member of the Israeli consulate came to Ronen and Orna Neutra’s home in Plainview on Monday evening to deliver the bad news, they told CNN late Thursday.
“Someone gave us official news that he was considered kidnapped by Hamas, but they didn’t give any further explanation,” Orna said.
Omer took a year off from college, delaying his acceptance to Binghamton University, so he could join the Israeli army and follow in his parents’ footsteps.
He started as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, then rose to tank commander.
The last time his parents spoke to him was Friday evening — just hours before Hamas launched a devastating surprise attack on the Jewish state.
Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old New Yorker, has been confirmed as one of the hostages held by Hamas. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center His parents, Ronen and Orna, said they last spoke to their son on Friday afternoon. @ NYCMMayor / X Omer took a year off from college, delaying his acceptance to Binghamton University, so he could join the Israeli army and follow footsteps of his parents. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center
“He was looking forward to a quiet, peaceful weekend — Shabbat and the Simchat Torah holiday — and just chilling with his friends,” Ronen said.
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“Then all hell broke loose, and we haven’t spoken to him since,” his mother also told the New York Times.
But around midnight, his parents started receiving notifications on a news app that something was happening in southern Israel.
They tried desperately to contact their son, but could not be reached, they said.
Two days later, one of Omer’s friends sent Ronen a video of the attack, in which he “thought he saw Omer.”
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“I asked a good friend to come and watch it,” he said. “I knew it was something I wasn’t ready to watch.”
In the recording, Omer is seen standing and walking.
His parents later found out from another of their son’s close friends that he was in a tank trying to defend the Gaza border, but was forcibly removed by terrorists.
“They were ready to defend the border, but unfortunately it seems they were surprised,” said Ronen.
Omer grew up in Plainview, New York, and graduated from Solomon Schecter, a yeshiva in Williston Park, where he was an honors student.
The family is calling on city, state and federal officials — including the Biden administration — to secure Omer’s release and ensure he is treated humanely. Facebook/Omer Neutra Omer started out as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, then rose to tank commander. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center Omer’s parents tried desperately to contact their son, but couldn’t get through, they said. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center
He also served as captain of the basketball, soccer and volleyball teams, and was very active in several Jewish community organizations — including serving as president of the New York Metropolitan region of United Synagogue Youth.
“He’s American; a good Jewish boy who loved both the country of America and the country of Israel,” Ronen told Newsday.
“He plans to come back, and we want him back,” he added to the Times.
Following the news of his abduction, Ronen and Orna shared a statement to Facebook on Thursday, using the hashtag #BringOrenHome.
“He was a born leader and a great son, friend, and giver,” he said. “This is what he did on Saturday morning, October 7, at the Gaza border, when Hamas took it.
“We ask that Hamas leaders continue to treat Omer and all hostages in a humane manner, in accordance with international law.”
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Solomon Schechter also shared a statement saying he was “heartbroken” by the news of his alum.
“We join the Neutra family in our pride in this extraordinary young man, a natural-born leader and a great friend to all who knew him.”
The family is calling on city, state and federal officials — including the Biden administration — to secure Omer’s release and ensure he is treated humanely.
“This is an act of terrorism and this is beyond reality,” Ronen told Newsday.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, more than 3,000 injured and at least 100 taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists are seen taking women hostage and parading them through the streets in a gruesome video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price.”
Gaza health officials reported at least 1,400 Palestinians killed and more than 6,000 wounded.
“This is not a war. This is a criminal act on their part. They take children, they take old people, and they just behave like mobs.
“The United States and Biden support Israel and everything must be done to bring hundreds of people captured by Hamas back to their families.”
Hamas terrorists have taken at least 150 people hostage. AP
Israel believes at least 150 people – mostly civilians – have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists who are now threatening to kill them and posting videos online. Neutra is one of 97 families so far officially notified that their loved ones were among those taken.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
