AMNA NAWAZ: While the rescue of four# hostages is great news for some,## there are still about 120# hostages remaining in Gaza.

One of them is 22-year-old Omer Neutra.# He's an American and Israeli citizen and## was serving as a tank commander# in the Israel Defense Forces on## October 7 stationed on the Gaza border# when he was taken captive by Hamas.

His parents, Orna and Ronen Neutra, join me now.

Welcome and thank you for being here.

RONEN NEUTRA, Father of Israeli-American Hostage# Omer Neutr.. ORNA NEUTRA, Mot.. AMNA NAWAZ: So, Orna, tell.. raised in Long Island.

He# spent a gap year in Israel,## deferring college back in 2020 and# decided to stay and join the IDF.

Tell us why.

ORNA NEUTRA: So, Omer was actually born in New# York City, one month after 9/11, on 10/14.. on 9/11 I was working in the city.

I was# nine months pregnant with him, and I remember## walking over the Queensboro Bridge thinking to# myself, I can't believe that this is happening.

So he was born right after that, and# into that climate in New York City,## a lot of -- I remember a lot of# people posting missing people,## and now he's on one of these pictures# in this horrible terrorist attack.

Nothing in his childhood could have prepared us# for this.

He had a happy childhood on Long Island,## very close community.

He was accepted to# Binghamton University, but decided that he## wanted to spend a year in Israel.

We're both dual# citizens of Israel and the United States.

He said:## "If I'm going to spend a year in Israel, I want# to do it the way Israeli kids would do it."

And he felt very strongly that he# shouldn't just go back to college,## that he should serve as well,# that it was his duty to serve.

AMNA NAWAZ: Ronen, as you know, we're speaking# just after this raid in Central Gaza that did## end up freeing four hostages from# captivity there, wonderful news,## joyful news for their families.# As you also know, it was reported## that the Gaza Health Ministry said over 270# Palestinians were killed in that operation.

I just wonder, would you want an operation like## that carried out if it meant# that your son could be freed?

RONEN NEUTRA: Well, obviously,## we want our son back.

And ..

But we also realize that, throughout the eight# months, I believe only seven people were rescued## in an operation by the IDF, which means that most# people will get out of there with a deal, through## negotiation.

So we encourage all the parties# to take it seriously and reach a deal, because## that's the only and the safest way both for our# kids and the families, but also for the people## in Gaza to get to some sustainable arrangement# that will basically bring some peace to the area.

And it's up to Hamas right now, as far# as we understand, to accept the deal.

AMNA NAWAZ: Do you think it's time that the# Biden administration starts to negotiate on## its own to release American hostages like# your son?

Do you want to see them do that?

RONEN NEUTRA: We'd like to see our son back.

So,## any way possible to bring our son back# is something we're going to welcome.

I would like to remind your viewers that,# on October 7, 45 Americans were murdered## brutally and 12 Americans were taken hostage.# Four came back.

Eight Americans are still kept## hostage.

Out of them, five are considered# living and three were murdered at October 7.

It's something that not a lot of America knows.

AMNA NAWAZ: As you know, in this negotiation,# Hamas has continuously asked for a permanent## cease-fire deal as part of this plan.

Do you# want the Netanyahu government to accept that?

ORNA NEUTRA: We are family members.

We cannot## tell the government exactly what# they need to do to get them out.

But we expect all sides to stay at the table# until they reach an agreement, whatever is needed.

AMNA NAWAZ: Even if it means# a permanent cease-fire?

ORNA NEUTRA: Even if it# means a permanent cease-fire.

AMNA NAWAZ: As you know, we just marked eight# months of this war since that October 7 attack.

I## know you have measured those months in days, days# that you wear every day across your chest, 248.

AMNA NAWAZ: I just wonder if you can help us# understand what the last eight months have## been like for you watching all of this# unfold, knowing the dozens and dozens,## over 1,100 Israelis that were killed on that day,# seeing the tens of thousands of Palestinians that## have been killed since, and you just wanting# your son home.

What's that been like for you?

ORNA NEUTRA: It's been a crazy roller coaster.

You mentioned before that the# administration may be negotiating## on behalf of the Americans.

We# woke up this morning to a phone## bombarded with messages.

Is this true?# What's happening?

Is Omer coming home?

It's hard not to get excited by every proposition# of a deal that may be happening or -- but,## then again, we have seen these deals collapse# just as quickly as the surface.

And it's been very## difficult.

And for us specifically, we don't have# proof of life from Omer, beyond the initial attack## and video footage that Hamas themselves put# out on that day showing that he was taken.

And he was alive when he was taken.

So,# for us, it's been excruciating, just the## uncertainty and the worry and the concern.# It's been very -- it's been very difficult.

RONEN NEUTRA: We wake up every# morning and we are asking ourselves,## what are we doing today to try and promote a# return of the hostages, and our son included?

So the only way we're dealing with this is through# activism, and not through emotions.

We're pushing## our emotions away.

It's very long, and it's --# like Orna said, it's a lot of up and downs and a## roller coaster.

And we're just focusing on telling# Omer's story, making sure people don't forget.

ORNA NEUTRA: Our life has completely# changed.

We have not worked since October 7.

We're stuck with our last conversation with our## son.

I still have him in my head# anticipating a quiet weekend.

AMNA NAWAZ: That was the last# conversation you had with him?

ORNA NEUTRA: That was the last# conversation the eveni.. ORNA NEUTRA: We spoke with him in the afternoon# in New York, which was nighttime in Israel.

RONEN NEUTRA: And just as we were about to# go to sleep, we are just checking our phones,## and we're seeing the barrage of# missiles going on and a ground## attack on Israel.

And we knew Omer is there.

So we try to call him, and, unfortunately,## no response.

But we didn't sleep that# night trying to figure out what happened,## calling anybody we could, and trying to# figure out what happened to his tank.

ORNA NEUTRA: And we still find it hard to believe.# It's like a surreal situation that we're in.

RONEN NEUTRA: So... ORNA NEUTRA: And we try to keep up hope.

RONEN NEUTRA: Yes.

ORNA NEUTRA: We .. because, otherwise, we can't function.

RONEN NEUTRA: Hope is mandatory.

AMNA NAWAZ: Ronen and Orna Neutra,## I can't thank you enough for being here,## for sharing Omer's story with us,# and we hope he's back with you soon.

RONEN NEUTRA: Thank you so much.

AMNA NAWAZ: Thank you for being here.

RONEN NEUTRA: Thank you.