MILWAUKEE – Orna and Ronen Neutra are living any parent’s nightmare. They have not heard from their son since Oct. 6, 2023.
Omer Neutra has been held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7.
Orna and Ronen Neutra shared their story at Congregation Shalom in Fox Point on Wednesday, July 17. Later that day, they spoke at the Republican National Convention to spread awareness of American hostages.
“He’s a person that brings people together, and he does it under the good of his heart,” Orna said.
Omer was born in New York City 22 years ago, and he was raised on Long Island. He took on leadership roles when he was in high school as part of United Synagogue Youth, and he was captain of the soccer, volleyball and basketball teams.
After Omer graduated high school, the Neutra family decided he would take a gap year in Israel before going to college at Binghamton University in New York. He wanted to be with Israelis his age, so he signed up for a pre-military program that serves Israeli high school graduates. Omer then decided to serve in the Israeli army and was stationed at the Gaza border in a tank.
“He said, ‘I think I should do this. I want to serve, and I want to do my share,’” Orna said.
On the night of Oct. 6, he called his parents. Ronen said he seemed “fairly relaxed” as he prepared to celebrate Simchat Torah. When his parents got word of the attacks on Oct. 7, they immediately started calling and texting to check up, asking: “Are you okay?”
They never received an answer.
Instead, they learned that Omer’s tank was found, and it was empty. A video then surfaced of soldiers being pulled out of their tanks, and some friends recognized the tank in the video as Omer’s.
The Neutras sprung into action. Within 24 hours, they had a letter written and sent to the White House stating that Israel was under attack and their son, an American citizen, had been taken.
The Neutras were not alone. There were 12 American hostages. Four Americans have since been returned, but their son is not one of them.
“He’s a person. He has a life,” Ronen said. “We hope he has a future.”
The Milwaukee Jewish community expressed their support for the Neutra family at Congregation Shalom. “Thank you so much for being here and sharing your stories. I just want you to know that we stand with you,” said Bobbi Rector, an active Jewish community volunteer. Rector told the couple about a local group that runs or walks to remember the hostages, and the Neutras expressed their gratitude.
Now, the couple says it is their “life’s mission” to bring their son and all the other hostages home.
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