Iranian Women Posing as Israelis Detained in Namibia, Not Missing Israelis

Israeli police clarified on Wednesday that two women arrested in Namibia were not Mali and Liel Yahalomi, the mother and daughter who previously disappeared from Israel. Instead, the arrested individuals were two Iranian women who had been impersonating Israelis. A Chabad representative in Africa, Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, stated that he visited the detained women and confirmed they were Iranian, not the Yahalomis, and that they claimed to be from Israel during their interrogation.

Mali and Liel Yahalomi had previously made headlines in August after vanishing in Europe, sparking fears of a serious security incident. They were located a week later on a bus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after Israeli authorities had been deeply concerned for their safety. They were questioned by an Israeli police representative in South America and released, with no suspicion of criminal activity. The disappearance was reportedly linked to financial distress.

Their journey began in the Czech Republic, where phones can be purchased without a passport, and they then proceeded to Vienna. It is suspected they filmed videos there intended for their family, but only sent them after moving on to another country, likely Germany, to create a false impression of their location. From Germany, they flew to Argentina, where they were found and questioned. It was believed at the time that their journey was not over, with another undisclosed destination planned.

Namibia, located in southwestern Africa, gained independence in 1990 and has had diplomatic ties with Israel since 2013, though neither country maintains an embassy in the other. Previous diplomatic incidents between the two nations have been reported in connection with the war in Gaza.