IDF identifies remains of soldier killed in Cyprus, buried as unknown in Haifa since 1948

After 78 years, the remains of Shlomo Haimson, a Romanian-born Jewish man killed in 1948 while attempting to escape a British internment camp in Cyprus, have been identified and located in a Haifa cemetery. The discovery came after an extensive investigation by Israeli military officials, who confirmed that Haimson's body was among those transferred from Cyprus to Israel in 1970 and interred in an unmarked grave in the Kfar Samir Cemetery in Haifa. Haimson, born in 1930, fled Romania during World War II and traveled to Israel with his mother, Ita, and his girlfriend, Perla, aboard the illegal immigration vessel SS Pan York (Kibbutz Galuyot). The ship was intercepted by the Royal Navy, and its passengers were detained and sent to internment camps in Cyprus, then a British colony. While imprisoned, Haimson joined the "Defenders' Ranks," a group operating within the camps under the Haganah paramilitary, and received training to become an IDF soldier. With the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948, Haimson's mother and girlfriend were released and moved to the Negev to help establish Kibbutz Magen. In September 1948, Haimson learned that his daughter, Miriam, had been born and resolved to escape the camp to reunite with his family. On the night of September 29–30, 1948, Haimson and eight companions breached the camp's perimeter in an attempt to flee. However, they were spotted by guards, who opened fire. Haimson was killed, while the others were recaptured and returned to the camp. Following his death, Haimson was buried by British authorities in a Jewish cemetery in Marathounta, Cyprus. A simple marker was placed at the site, offering no identification. In 1970, the remains of 163 individuals, many of whom were unidentified, were exhumed from the Marathounta cemetery and transported to Israel for reburial. They were laid to rest in a special section of the Kfar Samir Cemetery in Haifa, designated for Cyprus detainees. An investigation initiated by the IDF in 2023 led to the identification of Haimson's remains as being interred in grave number 11, row 2, within the Cyprus Detainees section of the Haifa cemetery. This revelation was communicated to Haimson's surviving relatives, including his daughter Miriam, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who reside in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The IDF has stated that a formal ceremony will soon be held to commemorate the occasion and to erect a headstone bearing Haimson's name at the gravesite. The identification process involved collaboration between the IDF's Missing Persons Branch, the Military Rabbinate, the Defense Ministry, and Cypriot organizations. These groups worked together to trace the movements of the remains from their initial burial in Cyprus to their final resting place in Haifa. The effort underscores the ongoing commitment of Israeli authorities to locate and honor the remains of fallen soldiers and civilians whose fates remained uncertain for decades. Haimson's story reflects the broader narrative of Jewish immigrants seeking refuge in Palestine during the post-war period, many of whom faced harsh treatment at the hands of British authorities. His participation in the "Defenders' Ranks" highlights the role of interned Jews in preparing for the defense of the newly formed state. Despite his tragic fate, Haimson's legacy endures through his daughter and descendants, who now have the opportunity to pay tribute to him in a manner that recognizes his sacrifice. The IDF has indicated that further ceremonies and commemorations are planned to mark the significance of this discovery. The exact date of these events has yet to be finalized, but preparations are underway to ensure that Haimson receives the recognition and respect due to him as a fallen soldier and a pioneer of the Israeli cause.