Remains of Long Island native Omer Neutra returned to Israel by Hamas
The remains of Israeli American Omer Neutra were returned to Israel on Sunday, along with those of two other hostages.
The Long Island native was a captain with the Israeli Defense Forces when he was kidnapped and killed by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
A gathering was held in Neutra's honor on Monday night at Columbus Circle in Manhattan.
"Our hearts are shattered, yet at last we can begin the process of bringing Omer to his final resting place in the land he loved and defended," Orna Neutra, Omer's mother, said from Israel.
President Trump said he spoke with Omer Neutra's family about the return of his remains.
"They're thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, not too great," the president said. "But we're very happy to have it done."
Gov. Kathy Hochul also posted about his return on social media.
"Omer's loved ones have advocated fiercely for him and now, his body has finally been returned for proper burial," Hochul wrote. "May his memory be a blessing."
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement her office worked closed with the Neutra family during the ordeal, and added, "While this is not the outcome any of us had hoped for, I am relieved that Omer's body has finally been returned to Israel, allowing his loved ones to lay him to rest with dignity. My heart is with his family and all who mourn his loss. May his memory be a blessing."
Remembering Omer Neutra on Long Island
Esther Dubow described a very emotional day at the Schechter School of Long Island, where Omer Neutra was an honor student, and captain of his basketball, soccer and volleyball teams.
"Our school has been intimately tied in a very personal way," Dubow said. "That gym has almost become a sacred space for us."
With word his body has finally been returned, the students' mission continues.
"Now that he's home, we can honor him in an appropriate way. Some important values of his, which are community, integrity, standing up for what you believe in," added Shir Levenson, the school's vice president of student government.
The Schechter School is creating an annual Omer Neutra Legacy Day. Two graduating seniors will be honored in his name for scholarship and leadership.
His parents took a photo of their son at the school with Rep. Tom Suozzi.
"I'm hoping now that he's with them again they can bury him, they can find some peace but we can never forget," Suozzi said.
Julia Simon said she met Omer Neutra as a teen.
"As much as he was outgoing and talkative, he was a great listener and he gave awesome advice," Simon said.
She said thinking of the advice he would have given her these last two years is what has helped her in fighting for his return.
"I started crying, and I remember saying to my mom on the phone, I was like, 'He's home.' I'm so happy it's over, but I'm just so sad," Simon said. "And last night was the first time I really started to feel that, that like huge wave of grief."
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz said he had a chance to meet Omer Neutra's parents and brother last year during a Torah dedication, and again at a basketball tournament in his name to help the family raise money to bring him back home.
"Orna and Ronan Neutra are heroes. They have gone everywhere, and they have done everything to advocate for their son and for all of the hostages. And I think after we turn back and reflect on this entire story of the hostages, we're going to look at people like them and say, they showed us what resilience is all about," Steinmetz said.
In Neutra's hometown of Plainview, a park where he used to play sports has been named for him, and across from the Mid-Island JCC, a street was renamed for him and a walkathon was recently held in his memory.
Rabbi Joel Levenson of the Midway Jewish Center, where the Neutras are members, said the family may not have closure, but does have "that certainty in knowing their son is not in a tunnel in Gaza but can bring him to a final dignified resting place."
Omer Neutra's death on Oct. 7, 2023
After graduating from high school, Neutra, the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, took a gap year before planning to attend Binghamton University to serve with the IDF.
"Omer's journey from a New York upbringing to the battlefields of southern Israel stands as testament to courage faith and the shared destiny of two nations," Orna Neutra said from Israel.
His parents were unable to reach him on the day of the Oct. 7 attacks. More than 420 days later, they learned he died that day.
They have spent the past two years pushing to keep his memory alive, including calling for a release of all the remaining hostages.
Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages so far, and in exchange Israel has released the bodies of 270 Palestinians back to Gaza, according to Palestinian media. The other two remains handed over Sunday were identified as IDF troops Oz Daniel and Col. Assaf Hamami. The remains of eight other hostages have yet to be returned.
