U.S. citizen believed held hostage in Gaza was killed on Oct. 7, Israeli military says

From left, Yael Alexander, mother of Eden Alexander, Orna Neutra, mother of Omer Neutra, Adi Alexander, father of Eden Alexander, and Liz Naftali, great aunt of Abigail More Edan, who was kidnapped but returned in the recent hostage release in Israel, speak to reporters after a meeting with President Joe Biden and the families of Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Omer Neutra, an American thought to have been held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, was in fact killed the day of Hamas’s attack on Israel, the Israeli military said Monday, citing intelligence it received.

Neutra, 21, a New York native, was a tank commander and the leader of a small Israeli army outpost near the border with Gaza. His parents, Orna and Ronen Neutra, had campaigned tirelessly for his release.

Neutra’s body has been held captive by Hamas ever since the attack, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The news of Neutra’s death comes as the hostage families grow ever more desperate for a deal that would free their loved ones and end the bloodshed in Gaza.

More than 250 people were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and about 150 have been released or rescued, Israel says. Of those who remain, about 60 are believed to still be alive, including three Americans.

Edan Alexander, 20, a New Jersey native who was stationed at the same army post as Neutra, is believed to be alive after Hamas released a video of him on Saturday. Keith Siegel, 65, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, are also thought to be alive. All three are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, as was Neutra.

President Joe Biden expressed sadness and outrage at Neutra’s death in a statement Monday. He recalled his latest meeting with Neutra’s parents at the White House less than a month ago and pledged to continue his administration’s push for a deal to release the hostages.

“I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong,” Biden said.

By the time they learned of their son’s death, Neutra’s parents had spent 423 days working for his release. In a video message on Thanksgiving, they recounted the pain of seeing empty chairs at holiday tables. Over the weekend, they spoke at a rally in New York.

In a statement released Monday on behalf of the Neutra family by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, they described the end of “an unimaginable nightmare” and said Israel’s political leadership had betrayed the country’s values by failing to free the hostages.

“We expected our leaders to rise to the occasion for the people of Israel and the hostages,” the family said. “The grief is heavy. Words have run out and time is running out.”

Neutra was last seen being pulled out of a tank by Hamas gunmen in a blurry clip recorded on the day of the attack. Since then, his parents have traveled the world, speaking to anyone who might be able to help generate momentum for their son’s release. They met repeatedly with lawmakers in the United States and Israel, talked with officials in the Persian Gulf and Europe, and delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention.

Neutra was born in New York City and raised on Long Island. After graduating from high school, he chose to spend a gap year in Israel, where his parents grew up. He later decided to join the IDF.

He is survived by his mother and father and his younger brother, Daniel.