Israeli Police Confirm Body Found in Petah Tikva Is Missing Man Eldar Dayan

Israeli police confirmed on August 6 that the body found earlier that day near Petah Tikva belongs to Eldar Dayan, a 22-year-old man from Dimona who had been missing since July 16. The discovery came after extensive searches led by the Sharon District Unit, with assistance from Petah Tikva police, Border Police fighters, and volunteers. The body was found in an open area near Highway 40 and was sent to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification and investigation of the cause of death. DNA analysis confirmed the identity of the remains as Eldar Dayan.

Earlier on the same day, a court extended the detention of two of Dayan's friends for six more days; they are now suspects in his murder. The friends had been with Dayan on the night he disappeared, after which they gave conflicting statements during police questioning. According to gathered testimonies, the group had been at the "Bela" hotel in Tel Aviv, then went to Yarkon Park and the Yarkon River, where a fight broke out with another group. Following the altercation, Dayan and his friends left the area and later arrived at a nearby Paz gas station.

Dayan's family expressed anger at the police for not informing them about the discovery of the body before it was reported in the media. Their lawyer, Sapir Perdo, criticized the police for what she described as insensitivity and neglect toward the family throughout the investigation. She noted that Dayan's mother had been searching tirelessly near the gas station area, suspecting he might be there, but was not updated by authorities.

The case has drawn public attention after reports revealed that the suspects, Dayan's friends, had threatened to kill him. Video footage was also released showing Dayan and his friends at the gas station shortly before his disappearance. The investigation continues as authorities work to clarify the circumstances surrounding Dayan's death.