By Karen Rubin, News-Photos-Features.com, [email protected]
A memorial Service for American-Israeli soldier, Long Island-native Omer Neutra, was held at Midway Jewish Center, the Syosset synagogue where he had his Bar Mitzvah 10 years ago, just two days after it was learned that he had been killed in the October 7 terror attack on Israel by Hamas, and not, as was believed, still living as a hostage.
After enduring more than 423 days of the torture of believing Omer was suffering as a hostage in the Gaza tunnels, they only learned two days ago that he died on October 7th, the day Hamas savagely attacked, killing more than 1200 and taking some 250 hostages.
Since then, Ronen and Orna have worked tirelessly to win the release of the hostages, still numbering 101 – at least one-third believed to be dead.
Omer Neutra, born two weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks, was a Long Island native who, after high school, delayed admission to SUNY Binghamton and enlisted in the Israeli military. He extended his tour, wanted to be on the frontline where he served as a tank commander. He was among the first responders after the October 7 terror attack and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel.
Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign for the release of Omer who was thought to be alive, and for the other hostages. They spoke at protests in the U.S. and Israel, addressed the Democratic National Convention, met with heads of state and politicians around the world this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s freedom.
In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive, NBC News reported.
Neutra’s family released a statement on Monday, saying they spent the last 423 living through an “unimaginable nightmare.”
“We are grateful that Omer embraced and lived his life in line with the values on which we raised him — protecting the sanctity of life and an understanding of our commitment to one another — but we never imagined in our worst nightmares that we would find ourselves spending this time continuing to fight for him in this way.”
As they have done for the past 423 days, in moving remarks during the overflow memorial service, attended by about 1000 including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, they called for the release of the 101 hostages and the return of the bodies of those who died in captivity.
Friends and family including parents Ronen and Orna and brother Daniel, spoke of his passion for life, his devotion to helping, inspiring and uplifting others.
After the memorial service, Governor Hochul commented, “We just concluded a very emotional service for American citizen, Long Island resident, Omer Neutra. I got to know his family. I traveled to Jerusalem days after he was kidnapped on October 7th by the barbaric actions of the terrorist organization Hamas. I held the hands of his aunt, his uncle, his cousins. I took his photograph and handed it to Prime Minister Netanyahu, I gave it to the President, I gave it to the Defense Minister. I said, ‘This is one of our own. This is a fellow New Yorker. He’s part of my family. We need to bring him home.’
“And after that I returned, I had a chance to meet his parents – the most incredibly brave individuals I’ve ever met. And their perseverance: traveling the nation, going to our nation’s capital, meeting us in Albany, meeting so many times at rallies and services in New York City, I felt I knew them so closely. So our hearts are collectively ripped apart on this day.
“As we heard the stories of his childhood from people who loved him and cherished him. A natural born leader, a young man who’s steeped in his Jewish faith, believed in the cause of protecting Israel, and his story is an inspiration to all of us. We take from Omer, the love of life, the love of country, and the love of Israel.
“And we leave here today committed to ensuring the return of the 101 individuals, whose families are still in the place of unknowing the fate of their loved one. This has been a long, painful nightmare for so many, and it must end now,” Governor Hochul stated.
President Joe Biden issued a statement upon learning of Omer’s death:
“Our hearts are heavy today. Jill and I are devastated and outraged to learn of the death of Omer Neutra, an American citizen, whose body Hamas has apparently been holding since they killed him during their brutal terrorist attack October 7.
“Omer was just 21 years old when he was taken by Hamas. He was serving as a tank commander in an Israel Defense Forces unit that was among the first to respond to Hamas’s campaign of cruelty— risking his life to save the lives of others. A Long Island native, Omer planned to return to the United States for college. He dreamed of dedicating himself to building peace.
“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. They told me how Omer’s grandparents were Holocaust survivors and how their family’s strength and resilience has been carried through the generations.
“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. 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.”
December 3, 2024
In the evening, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D – Long Island, Queens) delivered a moving one-minute speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives honoring the memory of Omer Neutra, his constituent, in which Suozzi declared, “Now all of his family’s alternating emotions have been replaced with deep grief. We who know them, grieve with them. We thank God for the gift of his life. We pray for the Neutras. And tonight, we rededicate ourselves to Omer’s just cause. We resolve to move forward, guided by his example, his courage, and his memory. May his memory be a blessing, Am Yisrael Chai!”
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