New details have emerged in the investigation into the disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi. During questioning conducted over the weekend, investigators discovered cell phone communications between mother and daughter that confirmed Liel was aware of her mother's escape plan and joined voluntarily.
In messages recovered by police, the daughter wrote to her mother that she accepted the proposal, adding: "I will go with you anywhere." This finding provides significant evidence that the disappearance was planned and mutually agreed upon, rather than a case where the daughter was taken against her will.
The investigation revealed that both women took carefully planned steps to make tracking them more difficult. They deleted applications from their mobile phones and took additional measures designed to prevent surveillance. Additionally, investigators found they had used Google's Gemini AI assistant and asked questions that may have been related to planning their route and journey.
According to investigators' assessment, Mali had traveled abroad several times previously to familiarize herself with the terrain and prepare for the escape plan. Police believe someone may have guided the pair along the way, though this detail is still under investigation.
During the investigation, two command centers were established: one in the Vienna area and another in Israel at Lahav 433, the Israeli police's major crimes unit. Lahav 433 entered the operation under the direction of Police Commissioner Danny Levy, with hundreds of investigators and intelligence personnel involved in the massive search effort.
Early in the investigation, it became clear this was likely a well-planned disappearance. Security cameras documented the two leaving their Vienna apartment without anyone else accompanying them, carrying all their personal belongings.
Police examined the family and financial background of both women and found no indications of domestic violence or threats against them. They are described as a normative mother and daughter who worked and received salaries. The mother worked at Bank Yerushalayim, a fact that initially raised suspicion of a possible criminal or serious financial motive.
However, it emerged that the mother withdrew at least 50,000 shekels (approximately $14,000) in cash before departing. This unusual cash withdrawal strengthened the assessment that she was planning an extended disappearance. No massive debts were found for either Mali or Liel, but rather what appears to be a more limited financial issue. A senior police source clarified that "Mali simply wanted to disappear from the world."
Regarding the escape route, the pair passed through Vienna apparently because it is a major European railway hub, allowing them to branch off to different destinations without drawing attention. They left behind traces designed to create the impression they were still in the city, through applications they had downloaded specifically for this purpose.
From the Austrian capital they continued to Frankfurt, sending false documentation to family members that appeared to be photographed in Vienna—but was actually taken in the Frankfurt area to conceal their plan. From there they continued to Argentina, where they were ultimately located by an Israeli police representative.
Once information was received that they were en route to Argentina, an Israeli representative who had been in Mexico, named Walter, was dispatched and arrived within hours—almost simultaneously with their landing. It turned out the pair had boarded a bus and were planning to cross within less than 20 hours from Argentina to another destination that cannot be published. The reason: at that destination it is easy to obtain forged passports, which was their plan.
The grandmother's involvement is also being examined. According to the suspicion, the mother took money from her, so investigators are examining the possibility that the grandmother knew about her intention and may have even assisted her. There is no significant contact between the mother and her ex-husband, the father of the children.
