Israeli media says the IDF confirmed the death of Omer Neutra in the October 7 massacre.
Neutra is originally from Plainview, Long Island. His body is currently being held in Gaza.
He would have been 23-years-old as his family recently celebrated what they thought was his second birthday in captivity in October.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Monday that Neutra, 21, was killed during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel and his body taken back into Gaza.
Neutra was previously thought to have been taken hostage. He was serving as a tank platoon commander at the time of the attack.
His family released a statement Monday morning:
"Our hearts are shattered with this devastating news. The Neutra family is deeply grieving and are requesting the public, who has shown great support throughout this journey, to please respect their privacy until they are formally ready to announce the next steps. May Omer's memory be a blessing."
In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it concluded Neutra's fate. He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, said in a joint statement Monday they "will not rest or be silent" until the body of Neutra is recovered from the Gaza Strip.
Neutra "fought fiercely at the head of his soldiers to defend the settlements surrounding Gaza, until he fell." Netanyahu's statement said. "We share in the family's heavy grief," it added.
"We will continue to act resolutely and tirelessly until we return all of our captives -- the living and the dead," the statement said.
There are still three American citizens thought to be alive as hostages inside Gaza.
Neutra's parents have been vocal about the release of hostages in Gaza, including their son.
They took part in a rally held Sunday in Central Park.
While they say they welcomed news of the ceasefire in Lebanon, they are frustrated it wasn't coupled with the release of hostages.
Neutra's father, Ronen, spoke to Eyewitness News on Saturday after spending another Thanksgiving without his son.
"We feel it's a missed opportunity but now after the election, the focus is back here in the United States and should continue to be the crisis in the Middle East and the hostages are the key to reducing the tension," Neutra said.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages.
The Associated Press contributed to parts of this story,
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