Israeli sisters found safe on South American bus after week-long international search

Two Israeli sisters who went missing in Austria have been located on a bus in South America after a week-long search operation involving international law enforcement agencies. Mali and Lial Yahalom were found safe and subsequently released following questioning, as no criminal wrongdoing was suspected in their disappearance. The operation was conducted under a publication ban by Israeli police unit Lahav 433 and the Intelligence Division, working in coordination with Europol and other international authorities. Footage released from the operation captures the moment of reunion between the sisters and local police representatives at their location in South America. One officer can be heard telling them: “We were very worried about you.” The circumstances surrounding their initial disappearance in Austria and their subsequent journey to South America have not been fully detailed, though the successful international coordination highlights the resources deployed when Israeli citizens go missing abroad. The case underscores the complexity of missing persons investigations that span multiple continents and jurisdictions, requiring cooperation between European and international law enforcement bodies.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.