Omer Neutra

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Omer Neutra
Hostage poster of Omer Neutra
Born(2001-10-14)October 14, 2001
United States
DiedOctober 7, 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 21)
Citizenship
Occupationsoldier
Known forGaza war hostage
Military career
AllegianceIsrael
BranchArmored Corps
RankCaptain
Battles / wars

Omer Neutra (Hebrew: עומר נאוטרה; 14 October 2001 – 7 October 2023) was an American-Israeli Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officer from Long Island, New York, who served as a tank platoon commander. He was taken captive by Hamas on 7 October 2023 during the militant assault on southern Israel. His parents led efforts to secure his release.

On 2 December 2024, the IDF announced that Neutra had been killed on the day of the attack and that his body was being held in Gaza. His remains were returned to Israel on 2 November 2025.

Early life and background

[edit]

Omer Maxim Neutra was born on 14 October 2001 in Queens, New York, United States, and grew up in the town of Plainview, Long Island.[1] His family was of Israeli background, and his grandparents were Holocaust survivors.[2]

He deferred his acceptance at SUNY Binghamton to spend a "gap year" in Israel and subsequently enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a lone soldier.[3]

Military career and death

[edit]

In November 2020, Neutra enlisted in the IDF. He joined the Armored Corps, later completing a tank commander's course and then an officer's course. He was assigned to the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade as a tank platoon commander.[4]

The morning of the 7 October 2023 surprise attack, Captain Neutra was commanding one of only 12 tanks stationed on the border with Gaza.[5] The tank was positioned at the "White House" outpost between kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz. After learning of the attack, the tank, reportedly suffering from steering problems, headed towards the border fence but was ambushed by Hamas militants with RPGs and explosive devices and set on fire, forcing the crew to evacuate. Neutra and two of his crew, driver Shaked Dahan and loader/radio operator Oz Daniel, were killed immediately, and the fourth crew member, gunner Nimrod Cohen [he], was captured alive. All four were then taken to Gaza. Footage of the burning tank with its crew being killed or captured became among the most known images of the 7 October attacks; Neutra was seen in the footage lying on the ground next to the tank, either dead or injured and unconscious.[3][6][7][8][9]

Initially, the entire crew was presumed to have been captured alive, but Dahan was declared dead in November 2023 and Daniel was in February 2024.[10] After more than fourteen months of uncertainty, on 2 December 2024 the IDF declared that Captain Neutra had also been killed on the day of the assault.[3] Cohen, the sole survivor, was released in October 2025 as part of the Gaza peace plan.

Campaign for release

[edit]
Omer Neutra's parents, Ronen and Orna, meeting with President Donald Trump in October 2025

Soon after his abduction, Neutra's parents Ronen and Orna began a campaign to free him from captivity. They routinely traveled to Washington, D.C. and Israel, connecting with and lobbying political leaders and activists, and working in conjunction with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.[11]

On the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks, Donald Trump hosted the families of Omer Neutra and Edan Alexander, another Israeli-American lone soldier taken by Hamas, in the Oval Office.[12]

On 2 November 2025, as part of the framework of the Gaza war peace plan, Hamas returned the bodies of Neutra and Daniel to Israel (Dahan's body had been recovered by the IDF in the Gaza strip in August 2024), along with those of Colonel Asaf Hamami. Their remains had been purportedly recovered from a tunnel in Khan Younis.[13]

On 7 November 2025, Neutra was buried in the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel Aviv.[14]

Legacy

[edit]
"Captain Omer Neutra Way" in Plainview, New York

After the December 2024 announcement of Neutra's death, New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered flags on state buildings be flown at half-staff.[15]

In February 2025, Nassau County legislators voted to dedicate part of Manetto Hill Road in Plainview as "Captain Omer Neutra Way". The dedicated road includes the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center, where activists regularly rallied to demand the release of Israeli hostages.[16]

In September 2025, "Captain Omer Neutra Memorial Park" was dedicated in Plainview.[17][18]

After the return of his remains in early November 2025, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Neutra's life had been "a testament to the resolve of the Jewish people" and that "We will never forget his story, nor the ultimate sacrifice he paid for peace".[19]

Thousands attended Neutra's funeral at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery, including President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog, former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and also American CENTCOM Commander, Admiral Brad Cooper.[20][21][22]

At Tel Aviv University, a scholarship fund was established in memory of Naוtra. The fund was set up by his family, in cooperation with the Friends Association and the Faculty of Sciences. The fund is dedicated to supporting graduates of combat units in IDF who are studying exact sciences. The fund is intended to encourage scientific and technological innovation in Israel and to continue Omer's way, which combines values, courage, and contribution to the country.[23][24]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Parents of U.S.-Israeli citizen held by Hamas describe 8 months of hoping for his release". PBS News. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  2. ^ "Long Island native Omer Neutra confirmed killed in October 7 attack by Hamas". ABC7 New York. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  3. ^ a b c "IDF confirms death of hostage Omer Neutra, a Long Island-born natural leader". The Times of Israel. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  4. ^ "Cpt. Omer Neutra, 21: Tank commander sought to 'make an impact'". The Times of Israel. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  5. ^ "The tanks that turned the tide on October 7". Israel Hayom. 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  6. ^ "Families of troops abducted from burning tank find footage of them from days before Oct. 7". The Times of Israel. 2025-08-18. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  7. ^ "In battle and captivity: Tank Crew 3's tragic fate on Oct. 7". Israel Hayom. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  8. ^ "Freed hostage Nimrod Cohen attends memorial for fallen comrade Oz Daniel, still held by Hamas". Ynetnews. 2025-10-27. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  9. ^ Steinberg, Jessica (2024-12-05). "He was just 21. His life story mirrored mine. Now I'm mourning him with hostage families in Tel Aviv". The Forward. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  10. ^ "IDF says US-Israeli hostage Cpt. Omer Neutra killed on Oct. 7 and his body held in Gaza". The Times of Israel. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  11. ^ "What 2 U.S. Families Did When Hamas Captured Their Sons". The New York Times. 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  12. ^ "Trump hosts US-Israeli ex-hostage Edan Alexander, family of slain captive Omer Neutra". The Times of Israel. 2025-10-08. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  13. ^ "Remains of Long Island native Omer Neutra among those returned to Israel". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  14. ^ ‘You came here alone, enlisted and fought”: President eulogizes tank commander Omer Neutra
  15. ^ "Flags at New York State buildings will be flown at half-staff Tuesday for Omer Neutra". JTA. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  16. ^ "County road to be named after Omer Neutra, Plainview local and Israeli soldier killed in Oct. 7 Hamas attacks". Newsday. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  17. ^ "Plainview Park Dedication in Honor of Captain Omer Neutra". Town of Oyster Bay. 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  18. ^ "Neighborhood park in Plainview being named in honor of American Israeli soldier Omer Neutra". ABC7 New York. 2025-09-21. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  19. ^ "Rubio says US will never forget Omer Neutra's 'ultimate sacrifice'". The Times of Israel. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  20. ^ Eyewitness News ABC7NY (2025-11-07). Funeral held for Israeli-American hostage and Long Island native Omer Neutra. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Eyewitness News ABC7NY (2025-11-07). Funeral held for Israeli-American hostage and Long Island native Omer Neutra. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ News, A. B. C. "'They're playing games': Mother of deceased American hostage blasts Hamas for 'breach'". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-11-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ "Scholarships". American Friends of Tel Aviv University. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  24. ^ "Newsroom". Tel Aviv University. 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2025-11-15.