The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli hostage thought to have been kept alive in Gaza, was actually killed in a terrorist attack on October 7, and his body was abducted by Hamas. .
Omer, who was 21 years old at the time of his murder, immigrated to Israel and joined the Israel Defense Forces as a “lone soldier.” This term refers to soldiers who have no immediate family in Israel. He was promoted to colonel in the tank platoon of the 77th Battalion, 7th Brigade. His tank was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and other explosives in the attack, and he and other soldiers were killed while fighting the terrorists outside the tank.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued the following statement:
Our thoughts are with the Neutra family this morning. After more than a year of determined, shocking and global struggle, the family received the shocking news on October 7th confirming the death of their beloved son, Captain Omer Maxim Neutra. His body was then abducted to Gaza by terrorists.
Omer was born and raised in the United States and chose to send Aliyah to Israel to join the Israel Defense Forces to protect her people. After a year of preparation in the Garin Zabar program, he will serve as a tank platoon commander.
Last year we had the opportunity to meet his parents, Ronen and Orna, and his brother Daniel. A strong family with extraordinary resilience, they have dedicated their lives since October 7th, doing everything in their power to bring Omer home. I send warm hugs to them and to all the families of the hostages who are enduring this terrible ordeal.
We must fulfill our ultimate responsibility. It is to return Omer and all the abducted men and women, the living to their families, and bury those who have fallen or been killed.
News of Neutra's death came a day after Hamas released footage of another American-Israeli hostage, Eden Alexander, who is believed to be alive.
The number of surviving American hostages is currently believed to be three: Alexander, 21; Keith Siegel, 65 years old. and Sagi Dekel Chen (35).
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days in office?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
