Israel claims that an American-Israeli soldier who was being kept captive in Gaz

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US-Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza  'killed on October  7th,' Israel says
Omer Neutra,  of Long Island, New York,  was among the IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hamas, his parents and synagogue  told CNN. Omer Neutra,  of Long Island, New York, was one of seven American citizens held in Gaza.  Four of them, including Neutra, have been  declared dead and three  are believed to be alive. 
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The Israeli military said Monday that Omer Maxim Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen previously believed to be alive and  being held hostage in Gaza, was killed during  a Hamas attack on October 7,  2023.
Neutra, 21,  was a tank platoon commander in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)  at the time of the attack, the IDF said, adding that  Neutra's body is still being held hostage in Gaza. It is unclear what  prompted the  Israeli military to make the announcement. In previous cases  where a hostage  has been declared dead, the  discovery has been based on new  information and  evidence.
"Omer loved sports,  played soccer,  basketball and  volleyball and  was the captain of his  school sports teams," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.  His family and friends  describe him as a warm,  optimistic and caring individual who  "lights up  a room the moment he  walks in."
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Neutra "fell in heroic battle near Nir Oz on October 7." Nir Oz, a small kibbutz near Gaza in southern Israel, was one of the communities  hardest hit by the  October 7 terror  attacks, with one in four residents  killed or  kidnapped.
Neutra's parents, Ronen and Orna  Neutra, spoke to CNN last week, describing the pain of  celebrating a second Thanksgiving without their son at the  table. Believing that Omar was alive, they said they  hoped the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could serve as a  "moment to refocus" on his  release.
"We have seen  the attention, both in Israel and around the  world, shift from the war in Gaza to the war in Lebanon  over the last four or five months, and that  has concerned us,"  said Ronen  Neutra. "But at the same time, we are disappointed that  this has not  been combined with a  commitment agreement, which is really the most urgent element  at the moment. We consider  this a missed  opportunity."
Neutra was one of seven American citizens  detained in Gaza. Four, including Neutra,  were pronounced  dead. US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday that he and first lady Jill Biden were "devastated and outraged"  by the  news of Neutra's  death.
"Less than a month ago, Omer's mother and father joined me at the White House to share the pain  they have endured as  I prayed for the safe return of their son  — a pain no parent should ever  have to experience," Biden wrote in the  statement.
"In this dark hour  — as our nation joins Omer's parents, brother, and family in  mourning this tragic loss  — we pray  for strength and resilience. And to all the families of those still  being held hostage: We see you. We are with  you." And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong," the president  added.
"Devastating" news.
The news of Neutra's death  caused an outpouring of grief  among Israeli officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him "a person of great values, rich in  talents and a Zionist in every fiber of his  being."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who met  with Neutra's family several  times, called the news of his death  "devastating."
"Omer was born and raised in the United States and chose to (come) to  Israel and enlist in the  Israeli military to  protect our people," Herzog  said.
News of Neutra's death came just days after Hamas released a video of Edan Alexander, one of three Israeli-American hostages believed to  still be alive in  Gaza.
The propaganda video was released on Saturday. It shows Alexander, 20,  appearing under  pressure, saying he has been held captive for more than 420 days and  pleading with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President-elect Donald Trump  to release him. As of Monday, 423 days  have passed since the war between Israel and  Hamas.
Speaking to thousands of  people at a rally on Saturday night in Tel  Aviv's Hostage Square, Alexander's mother, Yael  Alexander, said she was  "shocked by the  video".
She told the crowd  that she had been contacted by the Israeli leader  after the  video was released.
"My Edan, my love, we miss you so much. I  mean that  after your request, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called  me about an hour ago. "He strengthened me and assured me that now, after the  agreement in Lebanon, the conditions  have been created to release you and bring you  home," he said.
According to Israeli authorities, Hamas is holding 101 hostages in Gaza  - 97  captured on October 7,  2023, and four others who were kidnapped  earlier. At least 37 of the hostages have now been confirmed dead by Israel.  Among the hostages  are 13 women and two children under the age of five, according to authorities.

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