Son of Long Island Couple Killed in Hamas Attack, Families Face Heartbreaking Truth
The Neutra family’s agonizing wait for news of their son Omer ended in grief this week. Over a year after Hamas launched its devastating attack on Israel, the Israeli military confirmed that 21-year-old Omer Neutra was killed during the assault on the Nova Music Festival, not taken hostage as initially believed.
"For over a year now, we’ve been breathing life into your being, my beautiful boy,” Orna Neutra, Omer’s mother, tearfully shared at a memorial service held this week at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, New York.
A place chosen with heavy hearts, it was where Omer celebrated his Bar Mitzvah years earlier.
"With the hope and love of so many, we kept going and going and going, keeping you alive, speaking your name from every outlet, pushing any hint of despair, not stopping to breathe or to take in the deep pain of your absence,” Orna continued, her words echoing the pain felt by families worldwide.
Omer’s parents, Ronen and Orna, had become tireless advocates for their son. They fiercely campaigned for his release, their presence a constant at protests across the United States and Israel. Their efforts even led them to the Republican National Convention stage, and they maintained communication with the Biden administration in their desperate plea for Omer’s return.
Born in Manhattan in the somber wake of the September 11th attacks, Omer Neutra was described by his family as a vibrant young man. A grandson of Holocaust survivors, he excelled as a student and a three-sport athlete at a Jewish school on Long Island.
He had deferred his acceptance to the State University of New York at Binghamton to take a gap year, eventually choosing to follow his heart and enlist in the Israeli army, making Israel his "true love," father Ronen shared.
“You gave too much, too soon," Orna Neutra said, her words a heartbreaking testament to the immense sacrifice her son made.
While the Israeli Defense Forces haven’t released details on how they confirmed Omer’s death during the initial assault, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, issued a statement highlighting Omer’s courage.
"He fought fiercely at the head of his soldiers to defend Israeli settlements until he fell," their statement read, emphasizing their determination to recover Omer’s body from Gaza.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their profound sorrow upon learning of Omer’s death. In a statement, they said:
"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.”
The attack that claimed Omer Neutra’s life took approximately 250 hostages and resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Sadly, around 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza, roughly two-thirds believed to be still alive.
Omer was one of seven American Israelis held hostage in Gaza. Four, including Omer, are now confirmed deceased.
[Image of Omer Neutra) [Social Media Embed of Twitter statement by Governor Kathy Hochul]
[Image showing families of hostages protesting]
As the Neutra family grapples with this tragic loss, they find solace in remembering Omer’s spirit and determination. His brother, Daniel, vowed to honor his life’s work by continuing to advocate for the release of remaining hostages and a lasting peace.
"It is too late for him, but it was not in vain,” Daniel said, reminding us all that even in the darkest of times, hope and the pursuit of justice remain steadfast.
