An article in the Washington Post has sparked fury for suggesting that the parents of an American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza have not spoken out about the war in Gaza.
The Post’s national correspondent, Joanna Slater, interviewed Ronen and Orna Neutra about their experience since their American son, Omer Neutra, 22, was taken on October 7.
The initial headline of an article about the Neutras in the Post read: “Omer Neutra has been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. When his parents speak publicly, they don't talk about Israel's assault on Gaza that has killed over 38,000 Palestinians, according to local officials. Experts have warned of looming famine.”
The article's initial headline suggested that the parents had not spoken out against the war in Gaza (Photo: X)
The backlash against the framing was rapid. Daniel Sugarman of the Board of Seputies tweeted, “how the hell did it get published in the first place” and another social media user commented: “Their kid is being held hostage in Gaza but they’re… not speaking out against the war in Gaza?!? C’mon. How is that the frame for this story?”
Shortly after the piece was shared on social media, the headline was revised to remove the reference to famine, Hamas figures, and to make the parents of the hostage sound more sympathetic: “Omer Neutra, an American hostage in the Israel-Hamas war, has been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. His parents have mounted a relentless effort to get him released, speaking to anyone who might be able to support their cause.”
The Post added on X that they deleted the previous version of the story which “mischaracterized the efforts of Neutra’s parents.”
Although the headline has been revised, Slater’s article still includes a reference to the fact that the parents have not spoken about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Slater writes: “When the Neutras speak publicly, they don’t talk about the ferocity of Israel’s counterattack, which has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians and left nearly 90,000 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.”
However, Slater’s article goes on to say Orna described what’s happening in Gaza as “horrible,” and Ronen said Hamas is “not only holding hostage our son, they’re also holding hostage the people of Gaza.”
Originally from Long Island, Omer is one of five American hostages believed to still be alive in Gaza.
He had taken a gap year after finishing high school in America and stayed with cousins in Israel. According to reports, the American loved Israel so much that he chose to stay on and join the Israel Defence Forces.
He was manning an IDF base near Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 when he was taken captive.
His parents have spent the last nine months lobbying President Joe Biden to intervene and help bring Omer and the other hostages home.
The couple addressed the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday, a day devoted to foreign policy and national security.
In the Post article, Slater writes that the parents, “try not to wade into US or Israeli politics, but their frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is palpable. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has always been responsive, the Neutras said, and they’ve met with senior officials from the president on down.”
The Washington Post has been contacted for comment.
