Israeli police released footage Friday showing the moment an Israeli police representative located missing mother and daughter Mali and Liel Yahalomi aboard a bus in Argentina, bringing a dramatic close to a weeklong international search that had gripped the country.
The video, recorded in Buenos Aires, captures an Argentine officer entering the bus car alongside Walter, the Israeli police representative for South America from the Intelligence Division. Once the two women were identified, the Argentine official spoke with them briefly in Spanish before the Israeli officer introduced himself in Hebrew.
"Hi Mali, hi Liel. I'm Walter, the police representative in South America from the Israel Police Intelligence Division," he told the visibly confused sisters. "We were very worried about you. Okay? I'll let everyone get off and we'll talk a bit, alright?"
The footage offers a rare window into a moment of relief after days of frantic searching. Mali Yahalomi, 50, and her daughter Liel, 23, had vanished in Vienna on August 7 after cutting off all contact with family. Their sudden disappearance triggered an extensive investigation involving Israeli police, Austrian authorities, Interpol, and Europol.
When located on August 14, the two women appeared disoriented but unharmed. After questioning by authorities, investigators determined that the pair had left Vienna voluntarily, purchasing replacement phones and traveling by train through Germany before flying to Argentina. A police official confirmed to Ynet that the women had left of their own free will and faced no threats or danger.
"The police representative verified that their lives were not in danger, that they were not under threat and that they could continue on their way," the official said.
The case raised significant questions about why the Modi'in residents would undertake such a dramatic departure without informing family or authorities. Investigators connected their disappearance to personal financial circumstances, though the full motivation remained unclear even after questioning.
Under the direction of Police Commissioner Danny Levy, Israel Police led by the Lahav 433 national crime unit and the Police Intelligence Division operated command centers in Israel and abroad around the clock, conducting hundreds of investigative actions. The coordinated effort with international authorities ultimately provided the intelligence that led to their location.
The release of the video—showing Walter's calm, reassuring introduction to the sisters—became a moment of levity for many Israelis following days of intense speculation about what had happened to the two women.
The footage circulated widely on social media, with users praising the officer's composed professionalism in an unusual and delicate situation.
After being released with no criminal charges, the women were free to continue as they chose. Their family expressed tremendous relief at their safe discovery, and a crowdfunding campaign launched during the search was set to be returned to donors.
