Overview
- Israeli authorities located Mali and Liel Yahalomi alive in Buenos Aires after a weeklong international search and confirmed Argentine police released them with no criminal finding.
- During brief questioning in Argentina the women said they left voluntarily to ‘disconnect from the family, from the country,’ and denied threats or extortion.
- Israeli investigators cite digital and financial traces — replaced phones, deleted apps, bank withdrawals and Vienna security footage — as evidence the disappearance was premeditated.
- Argentine limits on Israel’s ability to conduct extended questioning and the short on-site interviews left key questions about motive and outside assistance unanswered.
- The operation used large resources and international cooperation, involved roughly 300 investigators and Europol help, and Israeli police say follow-up probes will focus on possible assistance and financial links.