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The New York native, from Long Island’s Plainview, was one of 251 hostages taken during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Another 1,200 men, women, and children were killed in the attacks.
Neutra, who turned 23 on Monday, Oct. 14, moved to Israel when he was 18 to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a gap year, his parents Orna and Ronen said in a video shared by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
A member of the IDF’s tank brigade, he was protecting a village on Israel’s southern border on the day of the attacks.
“Instead of celebrating with family and friends, he is enduring unthinkable torture and trauma at the hands of Hamas terrorists,” AIPAC said.
Neutra graduated from the Schecter School of Long Island in Williston Park. An avid athlete, he captained the basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams, and was a leader in his youth group, USY.
On Sunday, Oct. 13, friends and family came together to show their support at a community basketball game, ABC 7 reports.
"We're exhausted, absolutely. This has been a roller coaster of a year between hope and despair, and right now, negotiations are at a standstill," his mother Orna told the outlet.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat whose 3rd District represents Plainview, said his thoughts are with Neutra’s family, in a post on X Monday.
“Rather than being home in Plainview surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones, he’s being held in the tunnels of Gaza along with 100 other hostages,” Suozzi said.
“I pray for his safe return to his parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, and I will continue to do everything I can to bring them home.”
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