The Rishon L’Tzion Magistrate’s Court on Thursday approved a request by Lahav 433’s National Unit to impose a gag order on the investigation into the disappearance of Mali Yahalomi, 50, and her daughter Liel, 23, in Vienna, Ynet reported.

The order prohibits publication of any details from the investigation and will remain in effect until September 13. “This means that any publication from this point onward constitutes a criminal offense,” police stressed.

The investigation was transferred to Lahav 433 on Wednesday. An initial Israel Police probe indicated that there are signs that the two may have disappeared on their own volition. Investigators are examining indications that location data was deleted from the women’s mobile phones several days before they disappeared. They are also examining the possibility that the mother and daughter had obtained a significant amount of cash before leaving Israel.

In addition, the Austrian Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported Wednesday evening, citing Vienna police, that there was “no indication of criminal activity” in the case. The statement means that Vienna police currently believe there are no signs that a criminal offense is being or has been committed in connection with the case.

Overnight, the family issued a statement addressing the reports and said family members had given testimony to Lahav 433 and provided investigators with all the information in their possession.

“The Yahalomi family views with great severity the briefings and reports circulated in recent hours in the name of officials from the Israel Police Spokesperson’s Division, which create the public impression that a conclusion has already been established regarding the circumstances of Mali and Liel’s disappearance,” the statement said.

The family stressed that “some of the information that was published was not presented to the family, and the family possesses information that contradicts some of the claims raised in the reports. This information was also presented to the family by official Israel Police representatives who were in contact with the family.”

“It should be noted that according to the information provided by Israel Police, there was no unusual activity in Mali and Liel’s bank accounts, and the last transaction took place on August 3. If Israel Police possesses data and documents substantiating the claims that were published, the family requests that they be presented as part of the investigation and examined against the information in its possession.”

“The family therefore wishes to make unequivocally clear that, contrary to what was publicized by the police spokesperson, at the present stage there is no basis whatsoever to rule out the possibility of a terrorist incident motivated by nationalism.”

“Mali and Liel Yahalomi have been out of contact since Friday evening, August 7. The loss of contact is completely out of character. Throughout the trip, they remained in contact with the family, shared photos and experiences, and then contact with them suddenly ceased.”

“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 on the basis of clear findings, the family demands that Israel Police, security and intelligence agencies, and the Austrian authorities continue to examine this scenario with the utmost seriousness and with all the means at their disposal.”

“The family is not seeking to determine through the media what happened to Mali and Liel. By the same token, it is not prepared to accept a situation in which the scenario that they voluntarily cut off contact is elevated to the status of a conclusion before the completion of the investigations.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)