The father of Omer Neutra, who was killed on October 7 and then taken hostage, corrected President Trump after he claimed all hostages had been returned, noting that the body of Ran Gvili remains in Gaza.

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CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper eulogized American-Israeli IDF soldier Capt. Omer Neutra, who was killed defending Israeli civilians on October 7, saying that heroism is not defined by nationality but by humanity — a principle Neutra embodied.


מפקד סנטקום, אדמירל בראד קופר, מספיד את סרן עומר נאוטרה ז"ל. pic.twitter.com/W0NHaAekKc

— מה חדש. What's new (@Gloz111) November 7, 2025

The post WATCH: Slain IDF Capt. Omer Neutra laid to rest after his body’s release from Hamas captivity appeared first on World Israel News.

Parents of fallen US IDF soldier Omer Neutra, who was killed on October 7, gave an emotional speech on the return of his body into Israel.



The post WATCH: ‘758 days of hope and heartbreak’: Parents of slain US hostage Omer Neutra speak appeared first on World Israel News.

The IDF confirmed that the remains belong to Israeli American Capt. Omer Neutra, Sergeant Oz Daniel, and Lt. Col. Asaf Hamami.

By World Israel News Staff

The deceased hostages returned by Hamas overnight have been identified as three Israeli soldiers who were slain on October 7 and kidnapped to the Gaza Strip.

Forensic testing at the Abu Kabir Institute in Tel Aviv confirmed the remains as belonging to Capt. Omer Neutra, an Israeli American; Sgt. Oz Daniel; and Lt. Col. Asaf Hamami.

All three men were killed during clashes with invading Hamas terrorists along the Gaza border on October 7.

Neutra, 22, was raised in Long Island, New York, to Israeli parents. On October 7, he was serving in a tank alongside Daniel, Shaked Dahan, and Nimrod Cohen.

All of the tank’s crew members — except Cohen — were killed in the onslaught. Cohen survived two years in Hamas captivity and was one of 20 living hostages freed in an early October ceasefire and hostage deal.

Daniel, 19, was killed in battle alongside Neutra, and his body was held in Gaza for more than two years. He is survived by his parents, Merav and Amir, and twin sister, Hadar.

Dahan, 19, was also killed in the firefight. His body was kidnapped, but later recovered from the Strip in an IDF operation in August 2024.

Initially, Neutra was believed to have been kidnapped alive. His parents, Orna and Ronen, led a massive campaign for his return, including speaking at the July 2024 Republican National Convention about their son’s plight.

Around a year after October 7, the Neutra family was informed that their son had been killed based on intelligence reports. Neutra is survived by his parents, one brother, and three sisters.

Hamami, 41, was the commander of the Southern Brigade in the Gaza Division and fell in battle fighting Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Nirim. He was the highest-ranking Israeli soldier whose body was abducted into Gaza.

Hamami is survived by his wife, Sapir, three children, parents, and brother.

“The government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Hamami, Neutra, and Daniel families, and of all the families of the fallen hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, adding that the state remains “determined and fully committed to bringing home all our fallen hostages for proper burial in Israel.”

Eight deceased hostages now remain in Gaza, named as Sgt. Major Ran Gvili; Israeli American Sargent Itay Chen; Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held by the terror group since 2014; Dror Or, Meni Godard; Lior Rudaeff; Tanzanian student Joshua Loitu Mulalu; and Thai foreign worker Sontisak Rienthong.

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The parents of Omer Neutra spoke about Hamas failing to deliver on its ceasefire promise to release all living and deceased hostages, causing more pain and suffering for families who have been waiting two years.

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The parents of Omer Neutra addressed a group of U.S. Navy SEALs swimming across the Hudson River in New York, who dedicated the swim to Omer, honoring his sacrifice in defending Israel and protecting innocent lives.



The post WATCH: US Navy SEALs remember Israeli hostage before swimming across Hudson River appeared first on World Israel News.

Plainview, Long Island, paid a powerful tribute to fallen IDF Captain Omer Neutra—whose body is still held hostage by Hamas—by renaming a stretch of Manetto Hill Road in his honor, uniting families and a community in grief, resilience, and remembrance.

Omer Neutra Honored with Street Dedication in Long Island

A touching street renaming ceremony took place earlier today at Manetto Hill Road in Plainview, Long Island, commemorating the late Captain Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen. This memorial event honored Omer with… pic.twitter.com/816SGdotoP

— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) April 6, 2025

Today, the town of Plainview honored the memory of Captain Omer Neutra of blessed memory by renaming a section of Manetto Hill Road in his honor. Omer fell in combat on 10/7 defending Israel and his body is still being held hostage by Hamas 18 months later. The Neutra family was… pic.twitter.com/LECNSdCTy9

— Fred Aaron is Pops Culture (@fredforthemets) April 6, 2025

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Five hostages with American citizenship are still held in Gaza, with only one of them believed to still be alive.

By World Israel News Staff

The Trump administration engaged in unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, with President Donald Trump stressing that they must release all the hostages or “it will be all over” for the terror group.

Trump appears to be particularly focused on securing the release of five hostages with both American and Israeli citizenship who remain in Hamas captivity.

Here is a closer look at the American nationals still held in the Strip, more than 16 months after the Hamas terror onslaught on October 7, 2023.

Edan Alexander

Raised in New Jersey, Edan Alexander is the sole American hostage believed to still be alive. Alexander, an active-duty soldier in the Golani Brigade, was kidnapped from his army base adjacent to the Gaza Strip. He was last seen in a November 2024 Hamas propaganda video.

Omer Neutra

Omer Neutra, an Israeli soldier from Long Island, New York, was kidnapped from his tank. His family was initially informed that he was kidnapped alive, but forensic analysis later revealed that he was killed on October 7th. His parents, Ronen and Orna, spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2024, calling for the release of the hostages.

Judi Weinstein-Haggai and Gadi Haggai

Holding both American and Canadian citizenship, New York native Judith (Judi) Weinstein-Haggai immigrated to Israel decades ago. She was murdered alongside her Israeli-born husband, Gadi Haggai, as they went for a Saturday morning walk in their kibbutz, Nir Oz. Their bodies were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip.

Itai Chen

Born in Israel to a father originally from New York, IDF soldier Itai Chen was kidnapped from a tank during the October 7th attacks. Chen was originally said to be missing in action, but the authorities later told his family that he was killed during the onslaught. Chen also held German citizenship via his Israeli-born mother, Chagit.

In February, Sagui Dekel-Chen, an Israeli with American citizenship through his Connecticut-born father, and Keith Siegel, an American who immigrated to Israel in the 1870s, were released from captivity as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

According to a statement from former secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, more than 40 people with American citizenship were murdered on October 7th.

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Parents of slain American hostage call for return of their son’s body for a “dignified burial.”

By World Israel News Staff

Hundreds of supporters of Israel gathered in New York City’s Central Park on Sunday, showing their support for the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Key speakers included the parents of Omer Neutra, a Long Island native and IDF soldier who was killed on October 7th and whose body has been held by Hamas for more than 16 months.

Ronen and Orna Neutra previously spoke at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, before their son’s fate was clear.

“We lost our hope to see Omer alive,” the Neturas said. “But Omer deserves a dignified burial, and we deserve a place to mourn. Bring them home now,” they added.

Ilana Gritzewsky, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside her boyfriend, Matan Zangauker, also spoke at the rally.

Held in Gaza for 55 days, Gritzewsky has advocated for her boyfriend’s liberation from Hamas captivity since her release.

“I cannot stop thinking about each of the kidnapped. Cannot stop thinking about my Matan, and until we bring them all home, nothing will stop,” she said.

Gritzewsky added that while “my body may have returned…the deepest part with me is still there.”

She said that “the world does not understand the magnitude of this trauma, with the kidnapped clinging to our emotional torment.”

Rep. Ritchie Torres, a staunchly pro-Israel Democrat, said that he understood how the Jewish community had been deeply affected by the Bibas family murders and the delayed return of Shiri Bibas’s body.

“These past weeks of this, especially these past few days, have been unbearable,” Torres told the crowd.

“I will always stand up here, not only in hoping but fighting for a world where the hostages are brought home and where Oct. 7 can never be repeated,” he said.

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Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer, who has been held hostage in Gaza since October 7, spoke at The Republican National Convention and called for the release of the remaining hostages.

The photos of the American citizens kidnapped by Hamas in Gaza were projected last night on many screens outside the Republican convention in Milwaukee at the initiative of the Israeli-American community organization IAC. pic.twitter.com/yocKRYndwK

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) July 18, 2024

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Hostage’s father reveals that Donald Trump personally called him days after his son was kidnapped, pleads for American help in securing release.

By World Israel News Staff

The parents of Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra were greeted with applause and chanted “Bring them home” while they spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention on Wednesday.

Neutra, 21, is one of eight captives with American citizenship who have been held hostage in Gaza for more than nine months by the Hamas terror group.

His parents, Ronen and Orna, live in the New York City area and are active in raising awareness in the U.S. regarding their son’s plight.

For 285 long days and nights, Hamas terrorists have been holding Omer imprisoned in tunnels underneath Gaza,” Orna told the crowd at the convention.

"Where is the outrage? Where is it? This was not merely an attack on Israel. This was and remains an attack on Americans."

Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Hamas hostage Omer Neutra, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, address RNC, leading attendees in a chant of "Bring them home." pic.twitter.com/secwRD9U4n

— ABC News (@ABC) July 18, 2024

“He was born in New York City, one month after 9/11,” she added. “Here we are 23 years later, and he’s the victim of another vile terrorist attack.”

“Where is the outrage? This was not merely an attack on Israel. This was and remains an attack on Americans,” said Ronen.

“Citizens of 24 countries and five different religions still held by Hamas, denied basic human needs, their lives threatened every single day.”

Ronen revealed that former president Donald Trump had personally called the Neutras, just days after their son was kidnapped on October 7th.

“We know he stands with American hostages,” Ronen said. “We need our beautiful son back, and we need your support.”

He then led the crowd in chanting “Bring them home.”

“This is a non-political issue,” Ronen told Scripps News before his speech.

“It’s a humanitarian crisis and thus it needs to come to an end now. We can’t wait for the election. It has to happen now.”

Earlier this month, the Neutras led hundreds of New Yorkers at a rally in Central Park aimed at freeing their son and other American hostages.

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