Israel Defense Forces Locate Soldier Killed in 1948 War

The Israel Defense Forces located the burial site of Private Yaakov Zrihan, a soldier killed during Operation Harel in the 1948 War of Independence. Zrihan, a 23-year-old immigrant from Morocco, died on April 20, 1948, while serving as an operational driver in a supply convoy attempting to free the besieged city of Jerusalem. He was killed during a battle with Arab forces in the Shaar Haguy area.

His remains were identified in an unmarked mass grave containing seven other soldiers at the Harel Brigade cemetery in Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim. The discovery followed a 15-year investigation by the IDF Casualties Department's Missing Persons Branch, which utilized historical document analysis, witness interviews, and archaeological surveys. The effort included a dedicated special team formed in 2024 to resolve the case.

Brig.-Gen. Edna Eliya notified Zrihan's family of the findings on Tuesday evening. The military plans to hold a state ceremony in the coming weeks to add a memorial marker bearing Zrihan's name to the grave.