After 78 Years, the Altalena Found Intact on the Seafloor

At the end of a complex maritime search operation, the Altalena was found intact today (Monday), at a depth of 503 meters west of Israel’s coast. The Irgun arms ship was shelled off the Tel Aviv shore on June 22, 1948, on orders from the Israeli government. Sixteen Irgun members and three IDF soldiers were killed in the incident.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu announced the ship’s discovery. According to the statement, the vessel was found intact at 12:30 a.m. during a complex maritime search operation. The discovery was made possible by a ship equipped with special sensors and advanced survey systems, as part of an effort intended to uncover the historical truth surrounding the affair.

The operation was carried out over recent months under careful planning, according to the statement. The effort was led by Roni Sadeh, director of the Marine Mapping Division at the Survey of Israel. Sadeh said the professional team was able to reach the ship in the heart of the sea thanks to the use of advanced technologies.

Hagai Ronen, CEO of the Survey of Israel, said: "The discovery of the Altalena is an exciting historical moment, in which knowledge, technology, and advanced mapping capabilities allow us to touch a significant chapter in the history of the State of Israel."

Minister Eliyahu said that "locating the ship is a defining moment for national memory. We worked on this operation with a deep sense of mission: to uncover the historical truth and make the story of the ship’s heroes accessible to future generations."