IDF Identifies and Honors Soldier Missing for 78 Years After Cyprus Detention Camp Death

Nearly 78 years after his death during an escape attempt from a detention camp in Cyprus, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully located the grave of soldier Shlomo Haimson. Haimson fell to guard fire on the night of September 29-30, 1948, while trying to flee the camp with eight comrades. He was buried anonymously in the Jewish cemetery of Margo, Cyprus, as camp personnel did not know his identity.

In 1970, Israel repatriated the remains of 163 detainees from Cyprus, including about 120 unidentified individuals, who were reburied in a special section for Cyprus detainees at the Kfar Samir cemetery in Haifa. Haimson’s remains were among them, but his identity remained unknown until a special investigative team formed in 2023 by the IDF’s Missing in Action branch conducted extensive archival research, testimony collection, photo analysis, and archaeological surveys. Their findings confirmed Haimson’s burial location and identity.

The IDF’s Chief of Human Resources approved placing a gravestone bearing Haimson’s name on his grave. His descendants, currently in Rio de Janeiro, have been informed and will soon travel to Israel for a state military ceremony to honor him. The IDF emphasized its ongoing moral commitment to locating and honoring missing soldiers and their families.

IDF Human Resources officer Brigadier General Edna Ilia expressed pride in the army’s dedication to remembering fallen soldiers, stating that the ceremony will restore Haimson’s identity and rightful place in the nation’s memory. Haimson’s family expressed deep gratitude for the IDF’s efforts and said the recognition brings them profound peace.

This case highlights the IDF’s continued efforts to close historical gaps regarding missing soldiers from Israel’s early years and to honor their sacrifices with dignity and respect.