Suffering Journey With no End
The Secret Info the IDF Gave Omer Neutra's Parents That Changes Everything
Parents of fallen IDF Captain Omer Neutra share classified information about their son's remains in Gaza, revealing new details amid ongoing hostage negotiations.
The parents of Captain Omer Neutra, who was killed on October 7 but whose body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza, have revealed the limited intelligence they possess about their son, calling the ordeal an "unrelenting nightmare."
The disclosure comes amid a ceasefire agreement that has seen the release of 20 living Israeli hostages, but with 13 captive bodies still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Classified Location Known to Security Forces
In an interview on "Morning News" (Channel X), Omer's parents, Orna and Ronen, shared the painful knowledge they have received from security officials regarding their son's remains.
"From what I can say, Omer is not in the 'unknown' group," said Orna Neutra. "We are in a war of attrition, a never-ending nightmare, especially since the release of the living hostages, when the focus on the captive bodies drops."
Captain Neutra, who was a US native who immigrated to Israel to enlist in the IDF, was captured from a burning tank on October 7. The IDF officially announced his death in December 2024, confirming his body was held in Gaza.
"We are waiting every day to hear about people being released. These are sleepless nights, and it is becoming harder. We urge all involved parties to bring this issue to a close," Orna added.
Plea to US and Israeli Leadership
The Neutra family, who resides in New York, spoke about their recent meeting with the US Vice President and their demands to both the American and Israeli governments.
"We met with the Vice President along with other families of fallen hostages. We understand that nothing will be simple, but we see leadership from the Americans, who are sending official after official to ensure the sides do not violate the ceasefire and that efforts to retrieve the bodies continue to full extent," Ronen Neutra stated.
The family’s core request to the leaders was clear:
"We asked them not to move on to any further stage until all 13 hostages are returned."
They stressed that bringing their son home for burial is an "elementary right" for a soldier who immigrated to Israel to serve and whose parents cannot properly mourn.
Emotional Turmoil and Loss of Certainty
Orna Neutra described the family's emotional state following the release of the living hostages:
"We have been in a strong emotional whirlwind all the time, in the dripping news from Hamas and the continuation of its terror acts that create a difficult reality."
She emphasized the struggle to find closure:
"As we get closer to the finishing line, the mirror of reality hits us without mercy... We can't mourn properly. We are exhausted and it's only getting harder."
The family continues their fight, calling on the Israeli public to maintain support for the Hostage Headquarters and the families of the fallen, stating that the repatriation of the bodies is the only way for the country to move toward full recovery.