Police Intensify Search for Eldar Dayan, Suspected to Be Fleeing After Violent Incident

Israeli police have strengthened their assessment that Eldar Yitzhak Dayan, a young man from Dimona missing since late last week, is not simply missing but actively evading authorities. The investigation centers on a violent altercation near the Yarkon area involving Dayan and two friends, after which they fled in a vehicle later found abandoned with bloodstains and a shattered windshield.

The case began on July 18 when police received a report about three suspects removing a license plate from a car and fleeing. The vehicle was located with forensic teams collecting fingerprints and blood samples. Security footage captured Dayan and two others entering and leaving a gas station shortly before his disappearance. Despite initial police checks, no injured individuals from the scene were found in hospitals.

The car owner, a Dimona resident, identified her son as the vehicle’s owner. He was located, questioned, and subsequently arrested as a suspect. On July 25, a missing person report was filed for Dayan, linking the disappearance to the earlier violent incident. His two friends were also detained. Police believe the three were involved in a dispute among acquaintances, though details remain under investigation.

Search efforts continue in the southern district, while the criminal investigation is handled in the central district. Authorities suspect Dayan is hiding to avoid arrest. Coordination issues between districts led to a decision that Dimona police will conduct the search, and Petah Tikva police will investigate the criminal case. Forensic evidence is being analyzed to clarify the events and locate Dayan.