Israeli Authorities Assess Disappearance of Mally and Liel Yehalomi in Austria as Non-Security Incident

Mally and Liel Yehalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter, have been missing in Vienna, Austria, since last Friday. Their last contact with family was around 5:45 p.m. on Friday, when they sent a video from the apartment they rented in the city. They left the apartment sometime on Saturday, but no official check-out was recorded, and their whereabouts have been unknown since. They were expected to return to Israel on a flight yesterday but did not board.

Israeli officials, including a representative from the Israeli police stationed in Austria, and the Foreign Ministry, which is leading the investigation, have coordinated efforts to locate them. Austrian police have elevated the investigation, deploying special units to search for the women. Israeli security agencies conducted intelligence checks to determine if the disappearance was linked to Iranian or pro-Palestinian groups but concluded it is likely a civilian matter rather than a security or nationalist incident.

The Yehalomi family is cooperating with authorities and refraining from engaging with rumors circulating online. Mally's brother, Moshe Yehalomi, expressed hope for their safe return and noted the family’s limited knowledge of the trip’s itinerary, as the daughter had planned the surprise birthday trip. Search efforts include tracking their cellphone signals and checking nearby hospitals for unidentified patients. A command center has been established at the Foreign Ministry to consolidate information.

The case remains open with all possibilities under review, but current assessments by Israeli and Austrian authorities suggest no criminal or terror-related activity is involved. The family continues to await updates as search operations proceed in Vienna.