NY Rep. Suozzi implores Trump to ‘make every effort’ to return bodies of 2 Americans taken hostage by Hamas

Long Island Democrat Rep. Thomas Suozzi penned a letter to President Trump on Sunday, imploring the commander in chief to push for the release of two American hostages taken by Hamas and presumed dead, including one of his constituents.

Suozzi, one of the quieter Trump critics in Congress who frequently pushes for bipartisanship, praised the president for his “remarkable feat” brokering a delicate peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

But he also noted that the bodies of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, a Plainview, NY native, still haven’t been turned over by Hamas.

“Amid their grief, these two families and their supporters are left questioning whether the continued
captivity of their beloved children stems from genuine challenges in locating them or from the fact that
they are American citizens. Whatever the reason, they are pinning their hopes on you. We know you have much on your plate, but we are pleading with you to urgently make every effort to Bring Them Home,” Suozzi wrote in a letter shared with The Post.

Part of Trump’s groundbreaking deal was the slow but steady release of hostages — both the survivors and the remains of the dead.

“Mr. President, securing the ceasefire and reuniting so many families is historic. Please help ensure these
families can also find closure and properly lay their sons to rest,” added Suozzi, who represents a large Jewish constituency in Long Island.

Chen and Neutra were both serving their required conscription in the Israeli Defense Forces during the Oct. 7 terror attack when they were presumably killed and abducted by Hamas.

Neutra, 22, was born and raised in Manhattan after his parents immigrated from Israel. He found his way back to his family’s homeland during a gap year while attending Binghamton University, and opted to stay after reconnecting with his roots. He was serving in the IDF’s tank brigade when he was killed, according to the American Jewish Committee.

Suozzi celebrated Neutra as “a young man of courage, kindness, and promise who answered the call to serve,” according to the letter.

Neutra’s father told The Post last week that the perpetual waiting is a “continual horror for the families.”

“We don’t know when we’re going to get our son … Will it be today, in two hours, in one week — or never?” he said.

Chen, 19, was the youngest American taken hostage. He was primarily raised in Tel Aviv, but would frequently visit Brooklyn, where his father was born.

Chen’s father is still hoping for “a miracle” since they “do not have that physical evidence” that his son was killed.

So far, 20 living hostages and 12 deceased hostages abducted by Hamas have been returned to Israel. There are still 18 more slain hostages yet to be returned to their families, including Neutra and Chen.

Last week, Trump said that he would let Israel continue their offensive in the Gaza Strip if all remaining hostages were not released.