...
By Amir Daftari
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Israeli military confirmed Monday that an Israeli American soldier, previously believed to have been captured alive by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023 attack against Israel, is now presumed dead.
Capt. Omer Neutra, 21, a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military, was captured when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. It was previously thought he was being held hostage since then, but officials have announced it is thought he was killed on the day of the Hamas attack and his body was then taken into the Gaza Strip.
In a statement announcing the death, the Israel Defense Forces did not say how they came to the conclusion over Neutra's fate.
Read More on News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to Neutra's family via a statement on X, "My wife Sarah and I express our condolences from the depths of our hearts to the parents and family of Captain Omer Neutra, the heroic armored corps officer, with the bitter news of his fall on October 7th."
Believing their son to be alive, the soldier's parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, led a public campaign for over a year, speaking at rallies in both Israel and the U.S., addressing the Republican National Convention, and maintaining contact with the Biden administration in a bid to secure his release.
...
How Many Israeli Hostages Are Still Missing?
Hamas is still holding approximately 100 hostages inside Gaza, with at least a third believed to be dead. The Biden administration is renewing its push for a ceasefire and the release of the remaining captives after nearly a year of stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
The situation remains dire, but diplomats see a glimmer of hope following a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group allied with Hamas.
Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect, Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes in Lebanon, claiming that Hezbollah violated the agreement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected accusations that Israel violated the ceasefire, asserting that Israel had only responded to violations by Hezbollah.
...
Hamas Attack Leaves Destruction in Its Wake
The Oct. 7 attack marked the beginning of the current conflict when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 civilians and taking around 250 hostages.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has resulted in over 44,429 Palestinian deaths, with more than half the casualties being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence for these numbers. The war has displaced 90 percent of Gaza's population, often multiple times.
...
Neutra's Parents Continue Campaign Amid Hostage Crisis
The Neutras' public campaign, which initially sought to free their son, has become part of the larger context of efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
A video released by Hamas last weekend showed another American Israeli, Edan Alexander, alive. However, the ongoing conflict continues to put many hostages in peril. Despite a ceasefire proposals being put forward last month, Israel's offensive is still active in Gaza, and the death toll continues to climb.
This article includes additional reporting from The Associated Press
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines