Investigation Continues Into Eldar Dayan’s Death Amid Conflicting Theories and Extended Detentions

The investigation into the death of Eldar Dayan remains unresolved more than a month after the events leading to his disappearance. Five suspects involved in a fight with Dayan and his friends had their detention extended by four days until August 24, though police had requested an eight-day extension. The suspects, arrested on August 17, face charges including aggravated assault, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment, but are not currently charged with murder.

Police are examining two main scenarios: whether Dayan’s fatal injuries resulted from the fight with the five suspects or from an incident involving his two friends, Maxim Barberman and Omri Peretz, who remain suspects in the murder investigation. The police have not yet determined which scenario caused Dayan’s death, partly due to the absence of a final forensic pathology report. An anthropological report estimates the time of death but does not establish the cause.

Video footage from a gas station showing Dayan walking shirtless after the fight has become a key piece of evidence. Defense attorneys argue this footage suggests Dayan was not severely injured at that time, while police contend he appeared unwell. The condition of Dayan’s body, found in poor shape after exposure to heat and wild animals, complicates the forensic analysis. Defense lawyers question whether a definitive cause of death can be established.

The investigation also includes efforts to reconstruct the fight and determine each suspect’s role. Some suspects claim Dayan’s friends ran over one of them during the altercation, a claim police are investigating but have not confirmed with footage. Some suspects deny involvement in causing Dayan’s injuries, while police believe they have evidence of physical attacks by certain individuals.

Defense attorneys have requested confrontations between their clients and the two friends suspected of murder, but such proceedings have not yet occurred. The court rejected bail requests, citing the seriousness of the case, the number of suspects, and the need to complete the investigation under judicial supervision. The police continue to probe both the fight and subsequent events, with the cause of Dayan’s death still undetermined pending the final forensic report.