Long Island park renamed for slain Israeli captain Omer Neutra as family pleads for return of his body

A Long Island park in Oyster Bay was renamed Capt. Omer Neutra Memorial Park during a Sunday ceremony, honoring Capt. Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old Israeli tank commander killed during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Neutra, a Plainview native, is believed to be among the 28 corpses held by Hamas, with no sign of a hostage exchange as the war continues. Dozens attended the ceremony as his family prayed for the return of his body from Gaza.

Friends and family described him as a strong but playful young man who loved basketball and rooted for the Knicks and Lakers. The park includes a basketball court and a plaque that ties his childhood to his later service. The plaque notes that he grew up playing at the space, went on to serve as a leader, and honors his courage and humanity.

Local officials at the ceremony included Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who praised Neutra as a model citizen whose bravery, commitment and humanity touched everyone he met. Saladino said Neutra was a natural leader and that the community would carry forward his example. Neutra’s father Ronen, mother Orna, and brother Daniel spoke about their pride in the community and their desire for closure as the war continues.

Orna Neutra told attendees that when she stands in the park she sees her son and hopes that future generations can experience what he did. She described Omer as a boy full of mischief, noting memories of his laughter and close bond with his siblings, and said the park should be a place where kids can feel belonging and community. The family emphasized that the dedication gives the neighborhood a permanent place to remember Omer.

Actor Michael Rapaport, who has worked with the Neutras through his pro-Israel advocacy, attended the ceremony and called for Hamas to release Omer’s body and the other hostages and to pursue an end to the conflict. He said the return of Omer and the other hostages should be a top priority and urged the broader community to keep the memory of Omer alive.

Oyster Bay officials said the park renaming underscores the toll of the Gaza conflict on families and communities across New York, and the ongoing push for information and resolution as fighting continues.