The remains of three hostages, including those of Israeli-American Omer Neutra, were returned to Israel over the weekend.
Neutra, a native New Yorker and the grandson of a Holocaust survivors, “lived and died a hero,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote on X Monday.
In addition to Neutra, Hamas also returned the remains of Asaf Chamami and Oz Daniel. All three men were serving in the Israel Defense Forces when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. All three men died defending Israel on the day of the massacre, and their bodies were taken into Gaza.
For over a year after Oct. 7, Neutra was believed to have been taken alive back to Gaza. On Dec. 2, 2024, the IDF announced that new intelligence revealed that Neutra was dead.
“Omer was born in New York City one month after 9/11. We were spared then. But almost 22 years later, he became a victim of that same ideology of hate,” Orna Neutra, the young man’s mother said during an event in Washington, D.C. in early October.
Following high school, Omer took a gap year and participated in a leadership program in Israel. After spending a year there, Omer decided that, as an Israeli citizen, he wanted to serve in the IDF.
“A proud lone soldier who moved to Israel, Omer was driven to stand with the Jewish people by a deep sense of duty as the grandson of Holocaust survivors,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday.
“A die-hard Knicks fan, Omer loved sport, summer camp and his cats, Ronni & Lizi. Friends remember him as a ‘smiley goofball’ who lit up every room he entered,” the statement continued. “After 758 days, Omer is home—for the dignified burial he was denied for far too long.”
Neutra was an IDF tank commander and was serving close to Israel’s border with Gaza on Oct. 7. His tank was found empty shortly after the attack.
“Omer’s loved ones have advocated fiercely for him and now, his body has finally been returned for proper burial,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X.
The return of Neutra’s remains to Israel comes about three weeks after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal based on President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. The plan directed the return of all hostages, living and dead, within days of the deals signing.
All the 20 remaining living hostages were returned to Israel on Oct. 13, but Israel has accused Hamas of intentionally delaying the release of the deceased hostages. The remains of 20 hostages have been released, but eight are still in Gaza.
