The Nassau County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution on February 24 to rename a portion of Manetto Hill Road “Captain Omer Neutra Way” in honor of the Plainview native who was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. The roadway adjoins the Mid Island Y JCC – a major community hub for Nassau’s Jewish community and residents of the greater Plainview area.
“Omer Neutra’s decision to enlist in the IDF was a powerful demonstration of his commitment to the security of Israel, the safety and welfare of Jewish people around the world, and pride in his personal Jewish identity,” said Deputy Minority Leader Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview), who introduced the legislation. “By enshrining this public tribute in the heart of Plainview, we are sending a clear message to the world that the victims of the October 7 massacre will never be forgotten. As we remain unwavering in our demand for the return of every last hostage that is being held captive by Hamas terrorists, I thank my colleagues for their support and extend my heartfelt admiration to the Neutra family for the tremendous courage and resolve they continue to demonstrate in the face of an unthinkable tragedy.”
Omer Maxim Neutra was a native of Plainview who, after spending a gap year in Israel in 2020, delayed his plans to attend college at Binghamton University to enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). During his service as a tank platoon commander on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal assault upon the Israeli homeland – the first of its kind in decades. Neutra was one of the 1,139 people killed during the attack and lost his life during a battle in the vicinity of Nir Oz, a small kibbutz located near Gaza in Southern Israel that was one of the communities most severely impacted by the Hamas terrorist invasion.nAs of the date of the Legislature’s vote, Omer Neutra’s body was still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists, further exacerbating the pain and suffering inflicted upon his family members and loved ones as they continue to grieve.
Following the vote, Omer’s parents, Ronen and Orna Neutra, expressed gratitude for the Legislature’s unanimous support for a decision that will forever enshrine their son’s memory in the public square.
“We have been lucky to have raised Omer in such a giving and supportive community. It is clear that this community affected him deeply,” Ronen and Orna Neutra said. “We are appreciative of the Legislators for their moral clarity and honoring Omer in a way that will allow our neighbors to think of him every time they drive by the Mid Island JCC. It is so appropriate to have Omer’s name attached to a place where members of the community he loved have consistently gathered together since October 7th to fight for the return of Omer and the other hostages.”