On October 7th, 2023, Omer Neutra, an IDF tank commander, and his team drove to the Gaza border after the attack, where they were ambushed by Hamas militants. Omer is believed to be one of five American hostages still alive. After high school, Omer took a gap year in Israel, where he decided to continue his journey by serving in the IDF, postponing his plans to attend Binghamton University. Omer’s mother, Orna Neutra, said, “They told us he’s been taken captive. So many have died that it’s insane to feel relief thinking that your son is not dead, you know?” Omer has been described as a caring friend and a consistent leader, always checking in on his friends. Orna shared, “We’ve heard from hundreds of Omer’s friends who reached out to us with stories—from a basketball teammate who accidentally injured my brother, telling us that Omer called him from the emergency room to reassure him he was forgiven, to a friend who went through a dark time and said Omer saved his life by showing him he wasn’t alone.” Omer had also been the captain of his high school basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams.
It has now been 356 days since the attack on October 7th, 2023, and we continue to daven for the return of Omer and the remaining 100 hostages still in Gaza. Bring them home now!
Composed by: Emma Attias (10th) & Dina Abramova (10th)
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