Israel locates historic 1948 Altalena ship intact, 1,600 feet off the coast

The wreck of the Altalena has been found in its entirety at a depth of 503 meters (1,600 feet) west of Israel’s coast, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu announced. The ship was located at 12:30 a.m. on August 24 during what officials described as a complex marine search operation.

Its discovery followed months of detailed planning and preparation. The search team used a vessel equipped with specialized sensors and advanced surveying systems to locate the wreck in deep water.

The Altalena arrived in Israel in June 1948 carrying immigrants, including members of the Irgun, along with weapons and military equipment. The confrontation surrounding the ship became one of the most painful and formative episodes in the history of the newly established State of Israel. Sixteen Irgun members and three IDF soldiers were killed.

The search expedition was initiated by Eliyahu and led by Roni Sade, director of the Marine Mapping Division at the Israel Mapping Center, known as MAPI. Officials described the mission as a historic step in preserving Zionist heritage sites located in Israel’s maritime space.

“Tonight we are closing a historical circle on one of the most painful and formative events in the history of Israeli society,” Ben-Gvir said. “We have been dealing with this issue in secret for many years, and today, the fruits of the intelligence and operational effort have borne exciting fruit for the sake of historical truth, the memory of the fallen, and unity with Israel.”

Eliyahu called the search “a formative moment for our national memory.” “We worked on this operation out of a deep mission to uncover the historical truth and make the story of the ship’s heroes accessible to future generations,” he said.

Officials said the latest findings and documentation from the depths would be presented at a press conference. Its location is expected to be announced in the coming hours.