Elite Police Fighter Found Dead After Haifa Diving Incident

The body of Itai Parson, a 23-year-old elite police commando from Haifa, was recovered on Saturday after a three-day search. Parson, a sergeant major in the elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit, went missing on Thursday after entering the water for a free dive at Students' Beach in Haifa and did not resurface.

Parson was the son of Haifa Magistrate's Court Judge Rona Parson and dentist Dr. Alex Parson. He initially enlisted in a flight course in January 2023 before transferring to compulsory service in the Border Police in August of the same year. After completing his combat training, he pursued a specialized path to become a "Mista'arav" (undercover operative) and was subsequently assigned to the observation and drone team within the Yamam. He had signed on for permanent service in December 2025.

A massive search operation was launched involving hundreds of police officers, combatants, volunteers, and specialized units, including the Navy's elite naval commandos (Shayetet 13) and the Underwater Missions Unit (Yaltam). Drones, a police helicopter, boats, jet skis, horses, and jeeps were deployed to scour the coastline and waters, day and night.

Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav expressed their condolences to the family. A relative who was kayaking nearby alerted rescue forces when Parson disappeared. The search efforts were praised by officials for their intensity and the extensive resources deployed, highlighting the collaborative effort between various emergency and rescue services, including the fire department, Magen David Adom, and volunteer organizations.