The mother of an Israeli-American hostage on Long Island said Sunday that the growing war in the Middle East is distracting the world from the plight of prisoners of war.
“Of course we are worried,” Orna Neutra said after a rally in Central Park to mark the second birthday of her 22-year-old son, Omer, who was held hostage by the Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza. He talked about his son Omer.
“Attention is being taken away from Gaza,” she said of the growing Middle East conflict.
Nearly 300 people gathered at a Manhattan rally to mark Omer's 23rd birthday on Monday, calling for the release and return of all hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
Omer's father, Ronen, told the rally: “While you are in the horrors of Hamas's dungeons, we celebrate your birthday once again today.” “But hope is essential.”
Omer, who grew up in Plainview and left the country to join the Israel Defense Forces, was killed on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 hostages. He was captured near his military base when he was killed.
Authorities believe about 100 prisoners are still being held.
Israel launched a counteroffensive in Gaza that lasted a year, but the conflict has now spread to Iran and Lebanon.
“We're not sad,” Orna said of her son. “We hope he's alive. That's what we pray.”
