Police Investigate Possible Contact From Missing Dimona Man Eldar Dayan

Israeli police are currently verifying new information that could advance the investigation into the disappearance of 23-year-old Eldar Dayan from Dimona. Investigators from the Sharon District Unit are examining whether Dayan recently contacted his father, following a social media post by Dayan's girlfriend claiming he spoke to his father from a hiding place. Authorities plan to question the father to confirm if the call occurred, its timing, and whether it yielded any clues to Dayan's whereabouts.

Responsibility for the investigation has shifted to the Sharon District Unit after the Dimona police station declared it had exhausted its search efforts. This unit will now handle both the disappearance case and the related altercation that preceded it. The day before, the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court extended the detention of two of Dayan's friends, Omri Peretz and Maxim Barberman, for the third time. They are suspected of involvement in a fight with five others, during which they allegedly attempted to run the victims over with their vehicle. They also face charges of obstructing the investigation and allegedly threatening Dayan's life. Police are exploring whether these threats are connected to Dayan's disappearance.

According to suspicions, Dayan attended a meeting with his two friends, which escalated into a fight with another group. During the confrontation, the three allegedly tried to flee in a car, injuring five people lightly. The vehicle was later abandoned at a gas station in Petah Tikva, with its license plates removed. Peretz and Barberman returned to Dimona, but Dayan's whereabouts have been unknown since. The suspects have given conflicting accounts of the incident, with one claiming they were attacked by Eritreans who chased them and damaged the car, prompting them to abandon it and separate. The other denies involvement. Police found the suspects' fingerprints and blood stains in the abandoned car. Authorities believe Dayan is hiding near Petah Tikva but have yet to locate him. They hope verifying the reported call to his father will provide new leads.