Jerusalem, 29 September, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Haifa officials and Indian dignitaries gathered at the city’s British Military Cemetery on Monday to mark the anniversary of the 1918 battle in which Indian cavalry liberated the city from Ottoman rule.
The ceremony, attended by Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, Indian Ambassador to Israel J.P. Singh, and Indian Air Force attaché Vijay Patel, honored soldiers of the Jodhpur and Mysore regiments who carried out what historians describe as the last great cavalry charge in history.
“This is not only a history lesson, but a living testament to the power of heritage to unite two nations,” said Yigal Graever of the Haifa Historical Association.
Indian Air Force attaché Vijay Patel called Haifa Day an “important milestone” in Indian history.
“The bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers have been immortalized in the history books. I hope they will be remembered forever, not only in the hearts of Indians but also in the hearts of Israelis,” he said.
By late September 1918, the Ottoman front in the Holy Land was collapsing. Securing Haifa was crucial because it provided the Allies with a deep-water port, allowing supplies to be brought in by sea to support the final push north into Lebanon and Syria. The Ottomans, backed by German machine-gunners, held strong positions in Haifa and on the slopes of Mount Carmel.
The task of capturing Haifa was given to the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, composed of the Jodhpur Lancers from Rajasthan and the Mysore Lancers from southern India. Elements of the Hyderabad Lancers provided support.
On September 23, 1918, Indian soldiers armed with lances overran the Ottoman positions despite heavy machine-gun fire. Around 44 Indian cavalrymen were killed or wounded, hundreds of Ottoman and German soldiers were captured, and Haifa was liberated.
For India, the commemoration is part of its national heritage, celebrated by the Indian Armed Forces every Sept. 23.
Ambassador Singh noted that Delhi has a central square named for the battle. “In Delhi we have a square called ‘Teen Murti Haifa Chowk’ — Haifa Square. We hold a grand ceremony there every year,” he said.
The event also carried personal meaning for members of Israel’s Indian community. “My father came from India and settled here,” said Rina Pushkarna, founder of the Tandoori restaurant chain. “To suddenly discover this courageous connection between Haifa and Indian history is amazing.”
Since then, the Haifa metropolitan area has been regarded as a model of coexistence. The population of around one million is roughly 80% Jewish, 14% Christian, 4% Muslim, and 2% Druze.
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