Israeli Police Arrest Two More Suspects in Violent Brawl Linked to Eldar Dayan Murder Case

Israeli police arrested two additional suspects on Monday evening in connection with a violent brawl that occurred shortly before the murder of Eldar Yitzhak Dayan. The two individuals were detained for questioning and are expected to appear in Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for a hearing to extend their detention. Authorities clarified that these suspects are not accused of the murder itself but are suspected of offenses related to the fight that took place near the time of Dayan's death.

These arrests follow earlier detentions of two primary suspects, Omri Peretz and Maxim Barberman, who were friends of Dayan and present on the day he disappeared. During their interrogations, the two gave conflicting accounts: one claimed they were attacked by outsiders, while the other denied the incident occurred. Their detention has already been extended on suspicion of direct involvement in the murder.

The investigation began after Dayan, a 23-year-old from Dimona, went missing on July 16 following a night out with Peretz and Barberman. He last contacted his sister and partner with a cryptic message before all communication ceased. His abandoned car was later found in Petah Tikva with a shattered windshield and blood stains, initially raising suspicions of a hit-and-run. The case took a tragic turn when Dayan's body was discovered about 200 meters from the vehicle, prompting a murder investigation.

Dayan was buried in his hometown of Eilat amid family grief and criticism of the police's handling of the case, including delayed notification about the body’s discovery and misleading media reports. The police continue to expand their investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding Dayan's death and the events leading up to it.