Two Iranian Women Detained in Namibia Mistaken for Missing Israelis

Israeli police announced on Wednesday, October 7, that two women detained in Namibia with forged passports are not Mali and Liel Yalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter who disappeared in August 2026. A police source clarified to Ynet that the detained individuals are two Iranian women who were posing as Israelis. Earlier on October 7, reports surfaced that Mali and Liel Yalomi had allegedly been apprehended in the African country with counterfeit Hungarian passports purchased on the black market. According to Channel 12, an Israeli police representative abroad contacted Namibian authorities upon receiving the report and investigated the circumstances. After obtaining photos of the detained women, it was determined that there had been a mistake and they were not the Yalomi women. Chabad Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, who serves in Africa, told Ynet that he visited the detainees, expecting them to be the Yalomi women, but found they were Iranian mother and daughter who claimed to have come from Israel. Mali Yalomi, 50, and her 23-year-old daughter Liel disappeared from Vienna on August 7, 2026. They last contacted family before Shabbat and then ceased communication. Their phones were last geolocated near the Vienna train station. Their family reported them missing on August 9, fearing for their lives and not ruling out a terrorist attack. A large-scale investigation involving Israeli police units, intelligence, Europol, and Interpol was launched. After a week of searching, the mother and daughter were found on August 14 in a bus in Argentina by Israeli police, Argentinian colleagues, and Interpol. They were released after police determined there was no threat to their lives or suspicion of criminal activity. Police believe their disappearance was planned, possibly due to Mali's debts exceeding 200,000 shekels. The women reportedly took steps to create the impression they were still in Vienna after departing for Argentina and intended to travel to another country from there. They contacted relatives in Israel after being found, with Liel stating they were fine, acted of their own free will, and apologized for the distress caused.