The Israeli military said Monday, Dec. 2, that an American-Israeli citizen is dead in Gaza and has been for a long time. The Israeli Defense Forces said Omer Maxim Neutra of Long Island, New York, was actually killed during the Hamas attack on Israel in October of 2023.
The Israelis and his family had previously believed Neutra was alive and was being held hostage in Gaza. Instead, the Israeli foreign minister said he died in battle on Oct. 7.
The 21-year-old was a tank platoon commander in the Israeli Defense Forces. The Israeli military said Hamas is still holding his body hostage.
The Iran-backed militant group now has approximately 100 hostages inside Gaza, with roughly a third believed dead. Neutra was one of seven Americans held captive in Gaza since the terror attack in 2023. Four are now confirmed dead.
This latest news comes after Hamas released a propaganda video on Saturday, Nov. 30, of an Israeli-American hostage. It shows 20-year-old Edan Alexander. Hamas said he’s been captive for more than 400 days. The video was believed to possibly have been taken last week.
In the video, Alexander speaks in both Hebrew and English to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he has neglected the hostages, while urging President-elect Donald Trump to use the full power of the United States to negotiate freedom for the hostages.
Alexander’s mother released a statement saying her son’s voice needs to shake everyone. The Biden administration’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on “Meet the Press,” that the administration is working around the clock to produce a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza.
