Kever of fallen IDF soldier Shlomo Haimson identified after 78 years
The IDF has informed the family of fallen soldier Shlomo Haimson that his burial site has been identified nearly 78 years after his death. IDF Attaché to Brazil Col. Uri Ron delivered the news Tuesday night to Haimson’s daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Rio de Janeiro.
Haimson, born in Romania in 1930, was deported to Cyprus after British Mandate troops seized the immigrant ship Pan York-Kibbutz Galuyot. His mother, Ita, and girlfriend, Perla, later reached Israel after being released, while Haimson remained in the British-run Karaolos detention camp.
There, he joined Shurot HaMagen, a clandestine Haganah group that trained detainees for IDF service. After learning in September 1948 that his daughter, Miriam, had been born, Haimson cut through the camp fence with eight friends on the night of Sept. 29-30 and was shot dead by guards.
He was buried the next day in Margo’s Jewish cemetery under an unnamed headstone. His remains were brought to Israel in 1970 with those of 162 others and reburied in Haifa, mostly anonymously.
An investigation launched in 2023 determined Haimson was buried in grave No. 11, row 2, in the Cyprus detainees’ section. His family is expected to travel to Israel for a military-state ceremony where his name will be added to the grave.
The investigation was led by Brig. Gen. Edna Ilya and Herzl Shmuel. Ilya said the IDF’s “moral debt” to Haimson and his family “has never ceased,” adding that the encounter proves the IDF “never abandons its soldiers,” even decades later.
The family said they were “deeply moved, fulfilled and eternally grateful,” saying the identification brings “indescribable peace” and pride in Israel’s commitment to honoring Haimson’s memory, heroism, love of Israel and devotion to his newborn daughter.
