Israel says soldiers thought to be held captive in Gaza died on 7 October 2023

The Israeli occupation army today announced that an Israeli-American soldier who was believed to have been captured alive on 7 October 2023 and taken to Gaza, is now presumed to have been killed on that day before his body was taken into Gaza, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

According to the Hebrew media, Omer Neutra, a “lone soldier” from New York served as a tank platoon commander in the 7th armored brigade’s 77th battalion.

On the morning of 7 October 2023, he was inside a tank on the Gaza border near the southern community of Nahal Oz along with three other officers. Neutra was the tank commander, Shaked Dahan was the driver, Nimrod Cohen was the gunner, and Oz Daniel was the loader.

During the first moments of the Palestinian resistance’s infiltration of southern Israel, their tank was targeted by resistance fighters with an RPG projectile and explosive devices. All the tank soldiers were then rounded up and taken into Gaza.

Hebrew media cited Israeli military sources as saying that Dahan’s death was confirmed in November 2023 and Daniel’s death was announced in February. Now, after 14 months, Neutra’s death has also been confirmed. All three are believed to have been killed on 7 October 2023, according to the Israeli occupation army.

Ynet News said that Cohen’s fate remains unknown, though his father, Yehuda, told the website that he received indications that his son is alive.

Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign for their son’s freedom while he was thought to be alive.

In a statement announcing his death, the Israeli army did not explain how it came to the new conclusion. He was one of seven American-Israelis still held in Gaza; four of them are now said to be dead.

Israel has killed a number of captives as a result of its relentless bombing of Gaza.

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