Gag Order Issued in Austria Disappearance Investigation as Family Voices Anger

An Israeli court issued a gag order this morning (Thursday) on the investigation into the disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi in Austria. The order was granted at the request of investigators from Israel Police’s Lahav 433 major crimes unit, and prohibits the publication of any details related to the investigation.

The order will remain in effect until September 13, 2026. Police stressed that it is a sweeping prohibition, and that publishing investigation-related details in violation of the order is a criminal offense. The national police unit was instructed to handle the investigation by Police Commissioner Danny Levy.

Based on the details permitted for publication, police are examining the possibility that the two were not abducted, but left the area where they were staying of their own free will on Shabbat morning. Austrian police found their hotel room empty, and cellphone location data placed them in the area of Vienna’s central train station on Shabbat. Since then, no additional location data has been obtained.

The family of Mali and Liel Yahalomi released a statement this morning criticizing the police: "We view with great severity the briefings circulated in recent hours, which create the public impression that a conclusion has already been reached regarding the circumstances of Mali and Liel’s disappearance. The family has information that fundamentally contradicts some of the claims raised in the reports."

According to the family, based on information provided by police, there was no unusual activity in the two women’s bank accounts: "We make it unequivocally clear that at this stage, there is no basis whatsoever for ruling out the possibility of a nationalist-motivated terrorist incident."

"Family members gave testimony to Lahav 433 investigators and provided them with all the information in their possession. The loss of contact is completely out of character, and throughout the trip the two remained in touch with the family, sharing photos and experiences—then contact with them was suddenly cut off."

The family concluded its statement with a clear demand: "As long as Mali and Liel have not been located, and as long as the possibility of a terrorist incident has not been ruled out based on clear findings, the family demands that Israel Police, security and intelligence officials, and the Austrian authorities continue to investigate this scenario seriously and with every means at their disposal."