Omer Neutra, a 22-year-old American, has been held hostage by Hamas for over 330 days, along with other hostages captured since October 7, 2023. The Neutra family, residents of Long Island, described Omer as a friendly person with a good sense of humor who loves the New York Knicks and will turn 23 in the coming month. The family wears a piece of duct tape on their shirts to mark each passing day that has gone by since Omer’s capture. Unfortunately, Omer’s friend, Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was confirmed dead after being murdered by Hamas, further intensifying the urgency to free the remaining hostages.
Hamas has been holding at least seven American citizen hostages in Gaza, posing a significant challenge in negotiating their release. Orna and Ronen Neutra, who are dual American Israeli citizens with family members who survived the Holocaust, emphasized the importance of taking action and not waiting for things to resolve themselves in the current situation. The Neutras spoke at the Republican National Convention to raise awareness about their son’s captivity, and have been in regular contact with the White House to push for more efforts to bring Omer and the other hostages home.
As tensions and antisemitic incidents continue to rise, particularly on college campuses, the Neutras expressed concern over the lack of understanding of the conflict in Gaza among the younger generation. Ronen highlighted the importance of educating oneself about the situation and criticized those calling for the destruction of Israel, equating them to Hamas. Orna emphasized the need for people who care about the Palestinian people to focus on securing the release of hostages and deescalating the conflict in the region rather than promoting violence and further devastation.
The Neutras were deeply affected by the loss of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and expressed their devastation over the tragic outcome. Ronen compared Hamas to monsters, emphasizing the urgent need to bring all the hostages back safely. Orna and Ronen have been actively seeking support from the public and are encouraged by the widespread solidarity from people across the country. The Neutras remain hopeful that Omer, like their ancestors who survived the Holocaust, embodies resilience and perseverance and will come out of this ordeal alive.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding Omer’s captivity, the Neutras believe in the power of hope and perseverance to bring their son back home. They will continue to advocate for the release of all hostages and work tirelessly until everyone is reunited with their families. The Neutras symbolize the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and serve as a testament to the enduring strength and determination of those who refuse to give up hope in the darkest of times.
