(NewsNation) — Orna and Ronen Neutra, whose son Omer remains a hostage in Gaza, tell “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” it’s “more urgent than ever” to call for a cease-fire following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
“I think what we’ve heard for the past year is that Sinwar was a big obstacle to a [cease-fire] deal and that the fact that he’s no longer alive and he’s no longer in the way opens an opportunity, you know, for renewed negotiations,” Orna Neutra said.
Their son, 23-year-old Israeli American soldier Omer Neutra, was taken in October 2023. He’s one of the remaining 101 Israeli hostages in Hamas custody.
“It’s been way too long. This has been going on for over a year. Our son just celebrated a second birthday in captivity this past Monday,” she said.
When the parents first heard the news of Sinwar’s passing, their initial reactions were that of shock.
“Wow, this is a breakthrough,” Orna explained. “This has, you know, potential for good, but also potential for a lot of chaos.”
GAZA, PALESTINE – 2023/04/14: Yahya Sinwar, head of the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, waves his hand to the crowd during the celebration of International Quds Day in Gaza City. The chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar delivered a historic address to the Palestinian people of Gaza, telling them to stick up to the fighting against Israel in a speech that reflected his country’s support for the territory’s ruling Hamas militant group. Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day is a commemoration day in support of the Palestinian people held annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan by an initiative started by the late founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran. (Photo by Yousef Masoud/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) 
TOPSHOT – Ronen (L) and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, pose for a photo in New York City on November 6, 2023. The parents of Omer Neutra, a dual nationality US-Israeli soldier who is one of some 240 hostages seized by Hamas in its attack from Gaza, are counting on President Biden to get him back. They have had no word about him whatsoever in the month since their nightmare, and that of the other hostage families, began on October 7. Biden, who has pledged solid support for Israel in its war against Hamas, showed compassion as he spoke to the families for more than an hour and said he is determined to secure the release of the hostages, Ronen Neutra said. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 27, 2024 in New York City. World leaders convened for the General Assembly as the world continues to experience major wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, along with a threat of a larger conflict in the Middle East. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Hezbollah has vowed revenge for Sinwar’s death, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear the war is far from over.
Netanyahu said he wants Israel to maintain long-term control over Gaza and added that any Hamas member who helps with hostage rescue and turns their weapons in will be offered amnesty.
In Iran, Sinwar’s death has strengthened the spirit of resistance, the country’s United Nations team said. U.S. President Joe Biden has reiterated that the fighting must stop soon.
The Neutras are hopeful that hostages won’t be killed in retribution for Sinwar’s death.
“We still believe that the hostages alive have a huge value for the people that are holding them, and we just want to pray that our leaders, both here and in Israel, will act swiftly,” Ronen Neutra said.
NewsNation’s Tom Dempsey contributed to this report.
