Netanyahu: People of Israel owe fallen IDF warrior a tremendous debt

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he bows his head following the death of IDF officer M. who was killed during an operation in the Gaza strip Sunday night.

Destroyed car allegedly used by Israeli special forces in Gazan city of Khan Yunis, November 12, 2018 (Palestinian Press Agency)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he bows his head following the death of IDF officer M., killed during an operation in the Gaza strip Sunday night.
Calling M. a "much-praised warrior" Netanyahu said that "one day the full extent of his heroism will be told.
The people of Israel owe him a great debt," he said.
Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid expressed his admiration to the IDF that "displayed bravery and resolve [on Sunday night] and reminded Hamas and all our enemies that there is no place we will not reach them in," on Monday morning, after an IDF soldier was killed during an operation in Gaza, during which one senior Hamas terrorist was killed.
Yesh Atid removed a no-confidence vote that was planned to go to the Knesset on Monday. Yesh Atid, Beit Yehudi and Likud canceled planned party meetings meant to take place today.
President Reuven Rivlin said he is "shocked and saddened at the loss of Lt.-Col. M, the IDF officer killed last night, and praying with all citizens of Israel for the swift recovery of the injured soldier."
Rivlin sent "a warm embrace to all those who are defending our country."
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that "the people of Israel lost an accomplished warrior, his contribution to the security of the state [of Israel] will remain secret for many years."
He expressed his condolences to the family and wished a quick recovery to the officer injured in the clash.
Communications Minister Ayoob Kara said he is "knows very well him [the killed IDf officer] and his noble family - we are all in shock and our heart is broken."
Kara called the fallen warrior "one of our heroic, dear sons, an exemplary officer, with a deep sense of values, decorated and accomplished."
Minister of Science Technology and Space Ofir Akunis [Likud] called for a return to the policy of targeted strikes.
"Hamas is a cruel terror group [which] aims to destroy the state of Israel," he said, "it must be hurt, including using targeted strikes against the heads of the snake."
Akunis also expressed his condolences to the family of the IDF officer killed and wished a quick recovery to the wounded IDF officer.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon asked Israelis to refrain from passing on information about M. on social media, the minister was speaking in Jerusalem during a conference held by his Ministry Monday morning.
"I am telling you, you are risking the soldiers and members of the security forces that are on active duty 24 hours a day on our side [Israel] and the other side [the Gaza strip]. Restrain yourself, that is my request," Kahlon said.
Saying the fallen officer was "salt of the Earth," Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein sent "an embrace and condolences on behalf of myself and the Knesset" to the family of the killed IDf officer.
"The heart of all Israeli citizens is with the residents of the south and our forces who are on active duty near the security fence," he said.
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay expressed his condolences to the family of the IDF officer killed in the clash and wished a quick recovery to the injured officer. "IDF soldiers displayed their daring and ability to operate in any place at any time," he said.
Gabbay also said a recent statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that said no diplomatic solution is possible with Hamas as it is like ISIS "doesn't make sense."
"[Netanyahu] has all the tools to succeed statesmanship-wise and security-wise," he said in an interview to Army Radio on Monday morning, "and if he can't, he should put down the keys."
The Likud party slammed Gabbay for engaging in "low politics at a time like this."
Zionist Union MK Shelly Yachimovich released an air-brushed photo believed to be of the fallen officer with his children on her twitter account on Monday, ignoring a gag order regarding the officer's personal information.  "His name will probably never be published," she wrote, "but we can say with great pain that [his death in action] puts the racist, hideous Nation State Law in an even more horrifying light."
She further wrote the M. was not Jewish.
She later said "this [Twitter] post is not a breach of censorship and does not reveal in any way the identity of the officer."
"The service of non-Jewish soldiers in special and active-combat units is a known and public fact, even if it makes someone uneasy in this context."
Joint List MK Haneen Zoabi said that "there is no war in Gaza, there is a war over Gaza. And non dare say that the blood of those killed tonight, and all the years of [Israeli] occupation and suppression is on the hands of [the state of] Israel."
Zoabi said it is "a right and a duty" to "resist the [Gaza] blockade and the IDF brutality [against Gaza]."
Two senior Hamas members were killed in the IDF strike on Sunday night and one IDF officer was killed and another injured.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut his state visit to France short and returned to Israel on Monday morning.
Netanyahu was in France to honor the 100th anniversary to the Great War with other world leaders such as French President Emanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump.