Body of Missing Yamam Officer Found After Extensive Search in Haifa

The body of First Sergeant Itai Peretzon, 23, a member of the elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit, was discovered on Tuesday in the Students' Beach area of Haifa, three days after he was reported missing. His death was confirmed by police, ending an intensive, multi-agency search operation.

Peretzon, a Haifa resident, was found deceased earlier in the day. The search efforts, which commenced after his disappearance was reported, spanned three days and involved extensive land, sea, and air sweeps of the Students' Beach vicinity and surrounding waters.

The search operation utilized a wide array of resources, including drones, a police helicopter, a light aircraft, boats, jet skis, horses, and all-terrain vehicles. Numerous specialized units and volunteers participated, including police officers, Border Police fighters, the Air Unit, the Marine Police, mounted police, K9 units, the Navy's Yaltam unit, the Fire and Rescue Services' Lahava unit, police rescue volunteers, the Haifa Municipality, the Rescue Union, emergency teams, ATV volunteers, diving club volunteers, and beach lifeguards.

Additional support came from Magen David Adom, the "Yedidim" organization, police rescue volunteers, and ZAKA volunteers. The search focused on covering vast areas by air, land, and sea, adapting to the challenging coastal terrain that required simultaneous operations along the shore and in the water.

Following the discovery, the police expressed gratitude to all the units, forces, and volunteers who participated in the three-day search. They also extended their condolences to Peretzon's family.