IDF Identifies Burial Site of 1948 Fallen Soldier Yaakov Zrihan After 78 Years

After a complex 15-year investigation, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Private Yaakov Zrihan, who fell during the 1948 Harel Operation supply convoys to Jerusalem, is buried at the military cemetery in Kiryat Anavim. Zrihan, an immigrant from Morocco who served as a driver in the Etzioni Brigade's transportation unit, was killed in combat near Sha'ar HaGai on April 20, 1948, alongside 13 fellow convoy members.

In 2024, a special investigative team combined historical document analysis, witness interviews, ground surveys, and archaeological studies to locate the burial site. The findings revealed that Zrihan was interred in a mass grave at the Harel Brigade's military cemetery with seven other fallen soldiers.

Brigadier General Edna Ilia, Chief of Human Resources and head of the casualties division, informed Zrihan's family of the discovery, calling it an emotional closure and a moral commitment to support bereaved families. Zrihan's sister, Yvonne Cohen, expressed deep emotion, stating the identification of his grave means the world to her and that she will now be able to say Kaddish for him.

A state military ceremony is planned soon to place a memorial plaque bearing Zrihan's name at the Kiryat Anavim cemetery. The IDF emphasized its ongoing dedication to locating missing soldiers and providing closure to their families.