Lone soldier hostage Omer Neutra declared dead in Gaza captivity – Israel News

Captain Omer Neutra, 21, died on October 7 last year and his body was returned to the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the IDF confirmed on Monday.

New intelligence information that came to light allowed a special military commission of rabbis, scientists and lawyers to finally confirm his death about 14 months later, although there had long been suspicions that he was dead.

Neutra was a lone soldier from New York who served as a tank platoon leader in the 77th Battalion, 7th Brigade.

He was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip on October 7 along with members of his tank crew.

Neutra’s crew included tank gunner Nimrod Cohen from Rehovot, currently held in Gaza, tank loader Oz Daniel from Kfar Saba, and driver Shaked Dahan from Afula, who the IDF confirmed was killed in Hamas captivity.

Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra. (Source: Forum “Hostages and Missing Families”)

Neutra’s parents spoke on Sunday The Jerusalem Post about the possibility of a hostage deal during President-elect Donald Trump’s candidacy.

“He’s a dealmaker. He’s done it before,” said Ronen Neutra, Omer’s father.

“We just hope he uses his influence. You know, each side has its own levers,” said Orna Neutra, Omer’s mother, adding, “We hope that the joint effort will finally make a difference.”

“Omer loved sports, played football, basketball and volleyball and was captain of his school’s sports teams,” the Hostages Families Forum said of him.

“His family and friends described him as a warm, optimistic and people-loving person who ‘lights up the room the moment he walks in,'” the forum added.

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Hostages currently held captive in the Gaza Strip

Hamas is currently holding around 50 living and 50 dead hostages out of the original 250 kidnapped hostages.

About 80 people were returned as part of a hostage deal in November 2023, another eight were rescued, and many more were killed or their bodies recovered.

Hannah Sarisohn and Sam Halpern contributed to this report.

Lone soldier hostage Omer Neutra declared dead in Gaza captivity – Israel News

ByAmelia Journalton

Hostages currently held captive in the Gaza Strip

By Amelia Journalton

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