Israel Locates Historic Altalena Shipwreck After 78 Years Off Coast

The Altalena shipwreck was discovered intact at a depth of 503 meters west of Israel's coast overnight between Sunday and Monday, announced Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Amichai Eliyahu. The operation to locate the ship concluded after months of meticulous preparation and planning, utilizing a vessel equipped with advanced sensors and survey systems.

The Altalena arrived in Israel in June 1948 carrying Irgun fighters, weapons, and military equipment. The confrontation surrounding the ship became one of the most painful and defining events in the early history of the State of Israel, resulting in the deaths of 16 Irgun members and three IDF soldiers.

The search mission was initiated by Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu and managed by Roni Sadeh, head of the Marine Mapping Department at the Survey of Israel. It is regarded as a historic step in preserving Zionist heritage sites in Israel's maritime domain. In August 2025, Eliyahu revealed in a government meeting that his ministry was exploring ways to locate the ship. The government invested one million shekels in the search effort.