The IDF announced Wednesday that the grave of Private Yaakov Zrihan, a soldier killed during the 1948 War of Independence, has been located after a 15-year investigation by the Missing Persons Unit. Zrihan, who immigrated from Morocco in 1947, was killed on April 20, 1948 while driving a supply convoy to besieged Jerusalem during Operation Harel. He was buried in a mass grave at Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim alongside seven other soldiers. His sister Yvonne Cohen welcomed the discovery, saying she would call her sons to say Kaddish at his grave for the first time. A state military ceremony will be held to dedicate his headstone.
The IDF's Missing Persons Unit (the branch for locating missing soldiers) announced on Wednesday that it has identified the burial site of Private Yaakov Zrihan, a soldier killed in 1948 whose grave had been unknown for 78 years. The investigation, which lasted approximately 15 years, involved archival research, witness interviews, archaeological surveys, and soil analysis.
Zrihan immigrated from Casablanca, Morocco in December 1947 aboard the immigrant ship "HaPortzim" and joined the "Harel" operation supply convoys to besieged Jerusalem. He was killed on April 20, 1948 in the Sha'ar HaGai area along with 13 other convoy members. He was initially buried on April 22 at the military cemetery in Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim, but the exact location of his grave was lost over time. The investigation determined that he was interred in a mass grave with seven other soldiers from the same operation.
His sister, Yvonne Cohen, was informed of the findings by the IDF's Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of the Casualties Division, Brig. Gen. Edna Eliya. Cohen said: "For me, finding his burial place means everything. I will call my sons so they can say Kaddish for the first time at his grave." A state military ceremony will be held at Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim to add a headstone in his memory.
The Zioneer reported earlier today on the IDF's announcement. The IDF continues efforts to locate the burial sites of fallen soldiers whose graves remain unknown.
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