Hamas Returns Remains of Omer Neutra

Hamas handed over the body of American‑Israeli IDF soldier Omer Neutra — one of three deceased hostages returned on Sunday — President Donald Trump confirmed and said he spoke with Neutra’s parents. Neutra, a Plainview, New York native who joined the IDF after a gap year and served as a tank platoon commander, was killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and his remains had been held in Gaza, according to Israeli statements. Israeli authorities and the International Committee of the Red Cross said the bodies were recovered by IDF and Shin Bet forces; they will be honored in a military ceremony and taken to the National Center of Forensic Medicine for identification before families receive official notification. Neutra’s parents, who had spent more than a year without confirmation of his fate and traveled between the U.S. and Israel seeking his return, welcomed the recovery amid profound grief. Israeli officials reiterated their commitment to bringing all hostages home as efforts continue amid the broader human toll of the conflict since Oct. 7.