Rep. Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat from Long Island, reached out to President Trump on Sunday, emphasizing the need for action regarding two American hostages, one of whom is a constituent, who has been captured by Hamas and is feared dead.
Despite being one of Trump’s quieter critics, Suozzi acknowledged the president’s significant achievement in negotiating a challenging peace initiative between Israel and Hamas.
However, he pointed out that the remains of American citizens Itai Chen and Omer Neutra from Plainview, New York, have yet to be returned by Hamas.
“In their grief, these two families and their supporters are left with the question: Can this continue? The confinement of our beloved children is due to the real difficulty of locating them; they are American citizens. Whatever the reason, they’re putting their hope in you. We know you have a full agenda, but we ask that you make every possible effort to bring them home as soon as you can,” Suozzi wrote in a shared letter.
Part of Trump’s major agreement featured a gradual release of hostages, including both survivors and deceased individuals.
“Mr. President, securing a ceasefire and reuniting so many families is historic. Please help us ensure these things happen. My family will have closure, and I can finally lay my son to rest properly,” Suozzi, who has a large Jewish constituency, expressed.
Chen and Neutra were engaged in mandatory service with the Israel Defense Forces during the October 7 attacks when they were believed to have been abducted and killed by Hamas.
Neutra, at 22 years old, grew up in Manhattan after his parents emigrated from Israel. He returned to his family’s hometown during a gap year from Binghamton University, where he reconnected with his roots, ultimately deciding to stay in Israel. Reports indicate he was serving in an IDF tank brigade at the time of his death.
Suozzi described Neutra as “a young man of courage, kindness, and promise who answered the call to serve” in the letter.
Neutra’s father voiced his concerns last week, saying that the constant uncertainty was an “ongoing fear for the family.” He expressed his anguish, stating, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to pick up my son… Will it be today, in two hours, in a week, or will he never come?”
Chen, the youngest American hostage at just 19, primarily grew up in Tel Aviv but often visited Brooklyn due to his father’s roots.
Despite the bleak situation, Chen’s father still clings to the hope for a “miracle,” noting there’s “no physical evidence” indicating that his son was killed.
To date, 20 hostages who survived and 12 deceased hostages seized by Hamas have been returned to Israel. Meanwhile, 18 other murdered hostages, including Neutra and Chen, remain unreturned to their families.
Last week, President Trump stated he would permit Israel to continue its military actions in the Gaza Strip unless all remaining hostages are released.
