Memorial service for Omer Neutra, born on Long Island

The Long Island community celebrated the life of Omer Neutra at a memorial service in Syosset Tuesday morning.

Neutra, a native of Plainview, was serving as a tank commander in the Israeli army on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack that killed more than 1,000 people and took another 250 hostage. The 21-year-old was believed to be a living hostage, but on Monday the Israeli military said new information showed Neutra was killed during the attack and that militants took his body to Gaza.

Israeli officials said his body is still being held there.

Neutra grew up on Long Island, where his parents, Ronen and Orna, still live. For more than a year, his parents waged a nationwide media blitz demanding the US and Israel come up with a solution to secure the release of Neutra and the remaining hostages.

They spoke publicly on Long Island last Sunday, December 1, making public pleas to release their son.

“Our beloved son Omer was a natural leader who made others around him better with his warmth and ability to engage and encourage others to be their best,” the family said in a statement Monday evening. “He was deeply committed to both the people and the land of Israel and immigrated to Israel with that same deep commitment.”

Neutra attended Long Island’s Schechter School in Williston Park, where he was an avid basketball player. He took a gap year after high school in Israel before attending SUNY Binghamton, but decided to stay abroad and join the Israeli army instead.

Neutra was one of seven American citizens detained in Gaza. Four, including Neutra, have been pronounced dead.

Tuesday’s memorial was at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset.