The Neutra family’s son, Omer, has been held hostage by Hamas for over 330 days. Omer is described as a personable individual with a great sense of humor who loves the New York Knicks. Omer and others have been in captivity since October 7, 2023, along with Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was recently confirmed to have been murdered by Hamas. The Neutra family, devastated by the news, expressed their outrage at Hamas and their urgent need to secure the release of their son and the remaining hostages.
The Neutra family, dual American-Israeli citizens with Holocaust survivors in their lineage, are actively advocating for the release of the hostages. They have even spoken at the Republican National Convention to bring awareness to the situation. The family has been in contact with the White House, but they feel that more needs to be done to secure the release of their son and the other hostages. They wear a piece of duct tape on their shirts to mark each day that Omer has been in captivity, a solemn reminder of the passing time and the urgency of the situation.
Ronen Neutra’s grandfather was a Jewish partisan in Yugoslavia who fought against the Nazis during World War II. Orna’s grandfather was also a Holocaust survivor who saved his family multiple times from the Nazis. The qualities of resiliency and taking action in the face of adversity have been passed down through the generations, and the Neutra family is hopeful that Omer is embodying these qualities as he remains in captivity. They are praying for his safe return and are doing everything they can to raise awareness and advocate for the release of the hostages.
The rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7 has been alarming, with a 700% increase from the previous year. Ronen Neutra expressed his disappointment in the lack of understanding of the Gaza conflict among the younger generation and emphasized the importance of educating oneself on the complexities of the situation. He urged college students to read and learn about the conflict and not to support rhetoric that calls for the destruction of Israel or the elimination of the Jewish people. Orna Neutra called for a focus on the release of hostages as a way to address the loss of life and devastation in the region.
The Neutra family is heartened by the support they have received from the public and the awareness being raised about the situation. As Omer’s 23rd birthday approaches, they are hopeful that he will be home soon. Orna and Ronen emphasize the urgency of securing the release of their son and the other hostages before more lives are lost. They continue to advocate for their son and remain determined to bring him home safe and sound.
