The mother of Plainview-raised Israeli American soldier Omer Neutra, killed by Hamas in the October 7 attacks, has described the "surreal" and "excruciating" nature of waiting for her son's remains. Orna Neutra, speaking from Israel, emphasized her family's desperate need for the "closure" that only a proper burial can provide.

Omer, who was 21 at the time of the attack, joined the Israeli army after graduating from The Schechter School of Long Island. He was serving as a tank platoon commander when he was killed during the October 7 attacks. For over a year, the Neutra family held onto hope for his release as a captive, but Israeli defense officials confirmed his death last December, stating that his body remained in Hamas custody despite repeated appeals from the family and both the Trump and Biden administrations.

The October 9 ceasefire agreement stipulated that Hamas was to return all living and deceased hostages within 72 hours. Orna Neutra described the elation of watching the last 20 living hostages released last week, but that joy was shadowed by the pain of knowing Omer would not return in the same way. She noted the "painful" anxiety among families of deceased hostages due to the lack of a specific timeline, accusing Hamas of "playing games" and "breaching the deal" by controlling the narrative and the release process. To date, Hamas has returned only 13 of the 28 deceased hostages, with another body en route for identification, but no news has emerged regarding Omer's remains. Neutra described these as "sleepless nights," calling it "one of the longest weeks imaginable."

A crucial aspect of the family’s suffering stems from Jewish tradition, which mandates a swift burial for the deceased to begin the mourning process. Orna Neutra explained that treating the deceased with grace is one of the highest values in their culture, stating, "You don’t just leave the body. You’re supposed to bury it almost immediately. It’s very ingrained in our culture and our religion. And we don’t leave our people behind. You don’t leave a soldier on the battlefield. You bring them back." The inability to perform this sacred rite has caused what she described as a "mortifying" experience, preventing the family from moving forward.

Efforts to secure the return of Omer’s body have involved high-level political engagement. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), whose district includes Plainview, wrote to President Donald Trump, urging him to ensure the remains of Neutra and Itay Chen, another American hostage with New York ties, are returned to their families. Suozzi expressed concern that the delay might be linked to their American citizenship, emphasizing the need for closure for these families. The Neutra family, including Orna, her husband Ronen, and son Daniel—also met with President Trump in the Oval Office to advocate for Omer’s return, wearing shirts featuring his photo and the words “Our Hero.” Orna Neutra hopes to meet with Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff as they visit Israel this week to discuss the next stage of the 20-point peace plan.

Omer Neutra was a highly regarded young man. A 2019 graduate of Schechter, a yeshiva in Williston Park, he was an honors student, captain of his basketball, soccer, and volleyball teams, and deeply active in several Jewish community organizations. He also served as regional president of the Metropolitan New York Region of United Synagogue Youth. His background underscores the profound loss felt by his family and community.

Orna Neutra continues her fervent plea: “We still need to bring him back. This is all so surreal. So unreal. The families need that closure. They need that place to be able to mourn. The family needs that. We can’t put this behind us.” The struggle for closure continues as the family navigates this profoundly difficult period.