A throng of about 200 people gathered Monday evening in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle to honor and remember slain Plainview native and American-Israeli soldier Omer Neutra, whose body has been returned to Israel after he died in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas militants.
The crowd gathered on the north side of the USS Maine Monument, carrying candles or Israeli flags, some held American flags.
Steven Herz, originally from Hewlett who now lives on the Upper West Side, said he was there to show solidarity for a fellow countryman.
“I am here mostly as an American,” he said. “To support an American who was brutally killed. I think that was lost on all of us, that there were many Americans that were killed and kept hostage untold months and years. There just never seemed to be any outrage about it amongst Americans.”
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Neutra’s remains were one of three bodies repatriated by the terrorist group.
Neutra, 21, was killed as his tank unit fought off the initial Hamas attack. His body was taken to Gaza where it had remained since the attack.
A Schechter School of Long Island honors graduate, Neutra joined the Israel Defense Forces after his senior year. He also captained the school’s basketball, soccer and volleyball teams and took part in several Jewish community groups.
His parents Ronen and Orna Neutra were in Israel mourning their son and did not attend the gathering Monday evening.
Orna Neutra told reporters in Tel Aviv on Monday that it was important to get her son’s body back to honor his memory and keep with Jewish tradition.
Omer Neutra was a Plainview native and graduate of the Schechter School of Long Island. Credit: Rick Kopstein
“Our hearts are shattered, yet at last we can begin the process of bringing Omer to his final resting place in the land he loved and defended,” Orna Neutra said.
Mickie Preis, who moved to the city from Hewlett two months ago, held an Israeli flag as she waited for Monday evening’s rally to start.
Preis said that she came “out of respect for the family.” Her children went to Israeli scouts in Roslyn where she got to meet the Neutra family.
She also came to respect Neutra’s sacrifice.
“It’s out of respect for a fallen soldier who gave his life to protect Israel,” she said.
Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, mainly civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, the Israeli government said. The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that 68,800 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s military response. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
As part of a cease-fire agreement, Hamas began to return the bodies of the Israelis they had killed and kidnapped. The remains of eight other captives are still in Gaza.
Inbal Hacohen, who is from Jerusalem, said Monday evening that getting Neutra’s remains back was important to all Israelis.
“We feel obligated. He went there to fight, and we have to bring back,” she said.
The Neutra family believed for a year that their son was still alive, but last December Israeli military officials revealed that he had been killed while leading his tank unit and Hamas had returned to Gaza with his remains.
Neutra’s parents thanked Israeli troops, U.S. President Donald Trump and American negotiators, who brokered the ceasefire. They did not thank Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu, who many families of hostages blame for prolonging the conflict and endangering captives.
“The IDF soldiers and the U.S. administration fought for his life,” Ronen Neutra said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.