The Israeli army stated Monday that Omer Neutra, a twin American Israeli citizen who was serving within the Israeli Protection Forces throughout Hamas’ assault on Oct. 7, 2023, died that day.
The 21-year-old was beforehand thought to have been taken hostage, sparking hope he would possibly in the future come dwelling alive together with the roughly 100 different individuals believed to nonetheless be in Hamas’ captivity.
It’s unclear why the Israeli army shunned clarifying that Neutra was deceased till as we speak, with Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz writing on social media that Neutra “fell in a heroic battle” on Oct. 7.
Neutra’s mother and father, Ronen and Orna Neutra, advised CNN final week they’d hoped the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon would possibly result in progress on an analogous settlement with Hamas and the discharge of their son.
“We now have seen that spotlight each in Israel and world wide was taken from the struggle in Gaza to the struggle in Lebanon within the final 4 or 5 months, and that was a priority to us,” Ronen Neutra said. “However on the identical time, we’re disillusioned that it was not mixed with a hostage deal, which is actually probably the most pressing component proper now. We think about it a missed alternative.”
NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
The 2 additionally visited President Joe Biden on the White Home lower than a month in the past, the place presumably they made an analogous plea.
Biden paid tribute to Omer Neutra, a Lengthy Island native, in a statement Monday, saying he and first girl Jill Biden have been “devastated and outraged” to be taught of Neutra’s loss of life.
“Lower than a month in the past, Omer’s mom and father joined me on the White Home to share the ache they’ve endured as they prayed for the secure return of their son — ache no dad or mum ought to ever know,” Biden stated. “They advised me how Omer’s grandparents have been Holocaust survivors and the way their household’s power and resilience has been carried by means of the generations.”
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“Throughout this darkish hour — as our nation joins Omer’s mother and father, brother, and household in grieving this tragic loss — we pray to search out power and resilience,” he continued. “And to all of the households of these nonetheless held hostage: We see you. We’re with you. And I cannot cease working to carry your family members again dwelling the place they belong.”
