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A Long Island family has received formal confirmation that their 21-year-old son, Omer Neutra, is among the more than 100 people being held hostage by Hamas.

A member of the Israeli consulate came to Ronen and Orna Neutra’s home in Plainview on Monday evening to deliver the devastating news, they told CNN late Thursday.

“Someone gave us the formal news that he was considered abducted by Hamas, but they did not give any further explanation,” Orna said.

Omer took a gap year off college, deferring his acceptance to Binghamton University, so he could join the Israeli army and follow in the footsteps of his parents.

He started off as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, then rose to tank commander.

The last time his parents spoke to him was Friday afternoon — just hours before Hamas would launch a devastating surprise attack on the Jewish nation.


  Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old New York native, has been confirmed to be one of the hostages held by Hamas. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old New York native, has been confirmed to be one of the hostages held by Hamas. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center

  His parents, Ronen and Orna, said they last spoke to their son on Friday afternoon. @NYCMayor / X His parents, Ronen and Orna, said they last spoke to their son on Friday afternoon. @NYCMayor / X

  Omer took a gap year off college, deferring his acceptance to Binghamton University, so he could join the Israeli army and follow in the footsteps of his parents. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center Omer took a gap year off college, deferring his acceptance to Binghamton University, so he could join the Israeli army and follow in the footsteps of his parents. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center

“He was looking forward to a quiet, peaceful weekend — Shabbat and the Simchat Torah holiday — and to just chill with his friends,” Ronen said.

Looking to help?Donate here to UJA-Federation of New York’s emergency fund to supply critical aid to the people of Israel, working with a network of nonprofits helping Jewish communities around the world.

“Then all hell broke loose, and we haven’t spoken to him since,” his mom also recounted to the New York Times.

But by midnight, his parents started to receive notifications on a news app that something was happening in southern Israel.

They tried desperately to call their son, but could not get through, they said.

Two days later, one of Omer’s friends sent Ronen a video of the attack, in which he “thought he saw Omer.”

“I asked a good friend to come over and watch it,” he said. “I knew it was something I wasn’t ready to watch.”

In the footage, Omer was seen standing and walking.

His parents later discovered from another close friend of their son’s that he was in a tank trying to defend the Gaza border, but was forcibly removed by terrorists.

“They were ready to defend the border, but unfortunately it seems they were caught by surprise,” Ronen said.

Omer was raised in Plainview, New York, and graduated from Solomon Schecter, a yeshiva in Williston Park, where he was an honors student.


  The family is calling on city, state and federal officials — including the Biden administration — to secure Omer’s release and ensure he is treated humanely. Facebook/Omer Neutra The family is calling on city, state and federal officials — including the Biden administration — to secure Omer’s release and ensure he is treated humanely. Facebook/Omer Neutra

  Omer started as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, then made his way up to tank commander. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center Omer started as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, then made his way up to tank commander. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center

  Omer’s parents tried desperately to call their son, but could not get through, they said. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center Omer’s parents tried desperately to call their son, but could not get through, they said. Facebook / Midway Jewish Center

He also served as the captain of the basketball, soccer and volleyball teams, and was highly active in several Jewish community organizations — including serving as the regional president of the Metropolitan New York Region of United Synagogue Youth.

“He’s an American; a good Jewish boy who loves both the American country and the Israeli country,” Ronen told Newsday.

“He was planning to come back, and we want him back,” he added to the Times.

Following the news of his abduction, Ronen and Orna shared a statement to Facebook on Thursday, using the hashtag #BringOrenHome.

“He’s a born leader and a great son, friend, and a passionate giving person,” it said. “This is what he was doing on Saturday morning, October 7, on the border of Gaza, when Hamas took him.

“We ask that Hamas leaders continue to treat Omer and all the hostages in a humanitarian way, in accordance with international law.”

Follow along with The Post’s coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas

Solomon Schechter also shared a statement saying it was “heartbroken” by the news of its alum.

“We join the Neutra family in our pride in this tremendous young man, a natural-born leader and great friend to all who know him.”

The family is calling on city, state and federal officials — including the Biden administration — to secure Omer’s release and ensure he is treated humanely.

“This is an act of violence and this is beyond real,” Ronen told Newsday. 

Israel-Hamas war: How we got here

2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip more than three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.

2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.

2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.

2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.

2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years, in an early-morning ambush Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and sending dozens of militants into Israeli towns.

Terrorists killed more than 1,200 Israelis, wounded more than 4,200, and took at least 200 hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to announce, “We are at war,” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”

The Gaza Health Ministry — which is controlled by Hamas — reported at least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 injured since the war began.

“This is not a war. This is criminal action on their behalf. They took kids, they took old people, and they just behaved like a mob.

“The United States and Biden are standing by Israel and everything must be done to bring those hundred people held captive by Hamas back to their families.”


  Hamas terrorists have taken at least 150 people hostage. AP Hamas terrorists have taken at least 150 people hostage. AP

Israel believes at least 150 people — mostly civilians — were taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists now threatening to execute them and post the videos online. The Neutras are one of 97 families so far officially notified that their loved one is among those snatched.

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