Hundreds gathered in Jerusalem for the military funeral of Capt. Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American soldier whose body was recently returned from Gaza under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Neutra, 21, was killed and abducted by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that triggered the ongoing war. His remains arrived in Israel on Sunday, alongside those of two other soldiers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Neutra’s father, Ronen, remembered his son’s smile and voice, expressing relief at finally having a place to mourn him. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog also eulogized Neutra, calling him “a hero of two nations.” His mother, Orna Neutra, addressed the coffin, emphasizing the gap left by her son and the mission to honor his memory through light and goodness.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Neutra moved to Israel to serve in the military as a volunteer. Following his abduction, his parents traveled repeatedly to Washington, protested in both countries, and spoke at the U.S. Republican National Convention. For over a year, they held hope he was alive before being informed by military intelligence of his death.

As part of the ceasefire, six hostages’ bodies remain in Gaza, while 22 bodies have been returned since last month, and 20 living hostages were released on Oct. 13. Israel has transferred 285 Palestinian bodies to Gaza under the agreement, which prioritizes the return of all hostages’ remains.

Meanwhile, violence continues in the West Bank. Israeli troops have shot and killed three Palestinian teenagers, ages 15 and 16, and withheld their bodies. Palestinian authorities and human rights groups report that at least 54 Palestinian children’s bodies have been held by Israeli forces since June 2016.

The killings reflect a broader escalation of military operations and settler violence in the West Bank following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The U.N. reports 42 Palestinian children under 18 killed by Israeli forces this year, with October marking the highest monthly number of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property since 2006. Palestinians continue to seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza as part of a future independent state.