Israeli American soldier thought to have been taken hostage now presumed dead, IDF says
TEL AVIV — An Israeli American soldier who was thought to have been captured alive by Hamas during the Oct.
TEL AVIV — An Israeli American soldier who was thought to have been captured alive by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack was actually killed that day and his body taken into the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military said Monday.
Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old New York native, who served as a tank platoon commander after emigrating to Israel, was killed in battle, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X, as he paid tribute.
“Omer’s life story and dedication represent the best and strongest we have built as a nation,” he said in a post on X. He added that Neutra was killed in battle in Nir Oz, a kibbutz less than 2 miles from the fenced-off border with Gaza and one of the areas hit hardest when Hamas militants stormed through southern Israel.
However, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s death. It added that he had been posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
Around 250 people were taken hostage during Hamas’ terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that also saw 1,200 people killed, according to Israeli tallies. Around 100 people remain in captivity, although a third are believed to be dead.
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