Trump: ‘US Citizen Among Three Dead Hostages Returned by Hamas’

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The body of U.S. citizen Omer Neutra, who also held Israeli citizenship, has been returned by Hamas along with two other deceased hostages, U.S. President Donald J. Trump confirmed Sunday.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Florida, President Trump said he had personally spoken to Neutra’s parents.

“We got Neutra, from New York, from the United States, and I spoke to his parents,” Trump said. “They’re thrilled in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, not too great. We’re very happy to have done it. We have three. We got three bodies back today that they found, and we’re looking for the remainder.”

Neutra had served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after a gap year in Israel and studied at Binghamton University in New York.

REMAINS HANDOVER

Earlier Sunday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had received the remains of three hostages via the International Committee of the Red Cross, after they were recovered inside Gaza by the IDF and Israeli intelligence services.

The statement said the bodies would undergo forensic identification at Israel’s National Center for Forensic Medicine before families are officially notified.

Hamas — designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and most of its allies — has returned the remains of 17 deceased hostages to Israel since the cease-fire began on October 10.

Israeli and U.S. officials say Hamas is under pressure to hand over more remains, with Israel accusing the group of deliberate delays. Families of hostages have described the process as agonizing, citing repeated notifications that often end in unexpected postponements.

BROADER IMPLICATIONS

The return of a U.S. citizen’s body came amid mounting pressure on Washington, Israel, and their partners to accelerate the recovery of missing hostages and remains.

Israel maintains that securing the return of all hostages — alive or dead — remains one of its top strategic priorities, alongside efforts to eliminate remaining Hamas positions inside Gaza.

The war began after Hamas fighters killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 others during the group’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Hamas-run authorities, more than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israeli forces launched military operations in the territory.

The Gaza Health Ministry, linked to Hamas, does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, and its death toll figures have been difficult to verify independently.

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