Staff Sgt. Natan Fitoussi, 20, who was killed in a friendly fire incident at an IDF outpost near Tulkarem Monday night, was laid to rest Tuesday evening at the military cemetery in Netanya.
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According to the initial probe into the shooting, Fitoussi had apparently informed a comrade that he was stepping away to pray, but when he returned, his team member failed to identify him and shot him.
Fitoussi's father, Yosef, eulogized his son.
"That smile of yours. You had that smile. It was to tell us, 'Don't worry, I'm good in my world, the world of truth.' Today there is a new star in the sky, it's called Natan Avraham Ben Yosef. And thanks to that star, many things will come true. Natan, like all fathers, I didn't tell you enough how much I love you. Natan, I love you," the bereaved father said.
Fitoussi's sister Ethel also eulogized her brother: "We made aliyah eight years ago because of my brother. My brother was one of the secret righteous … righteous because of whom the world stands. I knew that because of my brother's soul, which was all prayers, God wanted him. I felt my brother would be with us for another year. I felt we were being tested. Every day I got stronger, I spoke with God. We are a family of believers. Lord, thank you for me being able to stand here and thank you. I have to thank you for everything … my brother is in the highest place in paradise. My brother went like a hero, at a time of prayer."
Commander of the IDF's Nachshon Brigade, Lt. Col. Ran Cohen, spoke at the start of the funeral and said, "We are standing here today, astonished and in pain at Natan Fitoussi's death. The Kfri Brigade is astonished and in pain about his premature death.
"With your family, you made aliyah and tied your fate to Israel. You chose to sign up for an important role. You were an important figure for the soldiers and commanders in the brigade. Natan, my heart breaks to talk about you in the past tense. You were the first to volunteer for every mission and played a major part in all the brigade's successes. There are no words to describe the enormous pain, and no words of comfort," Cohen said.
Chaya Rubinstein, principal of the Tamar Ariel high school in Netanyahu, from which Fitoussi graduated, said he had been a beloved student.
"Natan finished school two years ago and enlisted. His family made aliyah from France when Natan was in elementary school. Natan always strove to be part of everything, to integrate, to succeed, and do more than what he had to. His determination and desire to succeed stood him in good stead and he finished school with good matriculation grades and was proud to enlist," Rubinstein said.
Meir Fitoussi, a family friend, said, "I've known the kid for years. All of Israel is weeping. You don't know what a family this was. The father is a dentist, he left everything behind in France and came to Israel with his children. The hardest thing is that [Natan] was an only son. There are three daughters. Nothing can explain a blow like this. It's so painful."
The soldier who mistakenly shot Fitoussi, whose case is being handled by military legal authorities, issued a message asking to send his honest condolence to the family for their terrible loss.
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