LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: The 21-year-old Omer Neutra is one of the several hostages being held by the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. The US-born Israeli soldier was last seen alive in a tank, attempting to protect the Gaza border, when Hamas militants forcibly removed him and took him hostage, according to an eyewitness.
In the midst of the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, his Long Island family has received official confirmation that their son is now a captive. His current whereabouts are unknown but as reports suggest hostages are being held in Gaza in underground tunnels.
Omer was well-known for his outstanding physical abilities, his fervent devotion to the New York Knicks, and active social life.
His heartbroken parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, revealed to CNN's Anderson Cooper on October 12 that an official from the Israeli embassy visited their home on Monday, October 9, to break the heartbreaking news that their son Omer had been abducted, as per Daily Mail.
Orna said, "Someone gave us the formal news that he was considered abducted by Hamas but they did not give any further explanations."
According to Israeli media, the Neutra family was one of 97 families who had already been informed by officials of the kidnapping of their loved ones.
As per estimates from Israeli authorities as of October 12, the Palestinian militant group has imprisoned at least 150 people.
Omer Neutra joined the Israeli Defense Forces as an officer
Omer was born and raised in Plainview, New York, and graduated with honors from Solomon Schecter Yeshiva in Williston Park.
He was a very active member of multiple Jewish community groups, including acting as the regional president of United Synagogue Youth's Metropolitan New York Region.
He also served as the team captain for the basketball, soccer, and volleyball teams.
Omer decided to take a year off from college and postpone being accepted to Binghamton University so he could join the Israeli army and continue his parents' legacy.
He joined the Israeli Defense Forces as an officer and eventually rose to the position of tank commander.
Omer wanted to go back to Long Island for college and had a profound desire to promote peace.
Ronen told Newsday, "He’s an American; a good Jewish boy who loves both the American country and the Israeli country."
The terrible uncertainty surrounding his absence has now clouded the Neutra family's once-exciting and anticipated future, casting a shadow over it.
What did Omer Neutra's parents say about his abduction?
Omer's father, Ronen, said that they spoke to their son on Friday (October 6) afternoon — hours before Hamas would unleash the deadly surprise attack on the Jewish people.
Ronen commented that his son sounded well, but a little worn out. He claimed that the Jewish holidays had kept Omer extremely busy for the preceding two weeks.
"He was looking forward to a quiet, peaceful weekend — Shabbat and the Simchat Torah holiday — and to just chill with his friends," Ronen remarked.
His mother, Orna, also related the incident to the New York Times, saying, "Then all hell broke loose, and we haven’t spoken to him since."
By midnight, they claimed to have phoned him right away but were unsuccessful after seeing articles about an attack in the Southern region of Israel on a news app.
They claimed that after graduating from high school, Omer wanted to postpone attending college so that he could spend a year in Israel getting to know their ancestral roots.
Two days later, Ronen received a video of the attack from one of Omer's pals, in which Ronen "thought he saw Omer."
"Omer was in a tank so we know that he was taken out of the tank," Orna remarked.
Omer's father added, "We saw him walking in the video. He was well...he was standing ...and we expect to get him back the same way."
Later, his parents learned from one of their son's close friends that he had been in a tank attempting to protect the Gaza border when terrorists forcibly removed him.
Ronen and Orna posted a statement to Facebook after learning of their son's kidnapping, with the hashtag #BringOrenHome.
Omer's family is now pleading with local, state, and federal representatives, as well as the Biden administration, to secure his release and guarantee that he is treated humanely.
'Bring Omer Home' is written on a sign outside the Plainview, New York, Midway Jewish Center, which has received hundreds of views online.
