IDF platoon commander killed in battle, body held in Gaza, according to IDF.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Capt. Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old soldier from New York, was killed in battle and his body has been held hostage in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to a social media announcement.

On Monday, the IDF announced that an American-Israeli served as a tank platoon commander in the Armored Corps 77th Battalion, 7th Brigade.

"May his memory bring blessings," reads a post on X.

According to ABC 7 New York, Neutra was from Long Island and was killed during the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel.

After the IDF announcement, it was revealed that Neutra was not alive and had not been held hostage.

As a result of Neutra's body being held captive, he is classified as one of the seven American hostages being held in Gaza. Their loved ones gathered for another Thanksgiving meal with an empty chair on Thursday, pleading for their safe return.

While Israel's military campaign to defeat Hamas continues, cease-fire negotiations have all but collapsed.

The release of hostages may be secured by the incoming Trump administration, even if the Biden administration fails to achieve it before January.

Trump, the president-elect, stated on the campaign trail, "We demand the return of our hostages prior to my inauguration, or there will be severe consequences."

The other American hostages in Gaza are still being held, including Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judi Weinstein Haggai, and Keith Siegel.

Planet Chronicle' Caitlin McFall and Ben Evansky contributed to this report.