''He brought light with him everywhere': Omer Nowtra's grandmother recounts

December 2, 2024   

Tamar Zohar, the grandmother of Captain Omar Maxim Nowtra, spoke today (Monday) in an interview with Reshet B about her grandson - whom the IDF announced was murdered on October 7 and was designated a martyr whose body is being held by Hamas. Jerusalem wants mountain air: These are the vehicles that are banned from entering the city ""Wherever he went, he brought light with him," said Zohar. She added: "Omar could have continued his comfortable life in the US, but he chose to immigrate and serve the State of Israel." She recounted her grandson's last conversation with his parents. "On his last Shabbat evening, after weeks of high alert during which they slept in tanks, they were informed that they could be taken off alert. This is one of the most bizarre things I repeat all year." Nowtra was born in 2001 in New York, immigrated to Israel at the age of 18 and served as a lone soldier. One of the most difficult images from October 7 is of IDF fighters being brutally pulled out of a burning tank by Nuhba terrorists who had taken control of it. Omar was the tank commander and was kidnapped to Gaza along with his two subordinates. "He decided that he wanted to serve the State of Israel, the people of Israel, and enlist in the IDF," said his grandmother. "He could have continued his studies at university straight out of high school like many of his friends, and he chose this path." His grandmother says that she worried about him from the beginning of his service. "We were very worried when we knew he was stationed in the Gaza Envelope. We knew he was facing unusual challenges, but we tried to be strong. Every grandmother in this country worries about her soldiers, but you worry about half a force because otherwise you have no life." Osnat Getz, Omar's aunt, spoke about the hope that the family members held to this day. "It's very painful that this story hasn't ended yet. We're still digesting this news, especially Omar's parents, who are fighting to bring Omar and the other hostages back alive. We received word about Omar that he was killed, but this time of year is inexplicable." Osnat said that "Omar grew up in New York, his parents are on the line, his brother Ronen and his mother Orna. They found themselves in the US, feeling a mission to cry out against the Biden administration and the Trump administration. They decided that their presence there was important. The message caught them in New York. They knocked on my brother's door and informed him.".