"Since Sunday there is only one 'tick' on WhatsApp": Sister of the Israeli woman who disappeared with her daughter in Austria in an exclusive conversation with N12

The Israeli embassy in Vienna is requesting assistance in locating Meli and Liel Yahalomi. The 50-year-old mother and her 23-year-old daughter were last seen in the Austrian capital on Friday. Contact with the two was lost after they arrived by train from Prague to an apartment hotel in Vienna. Meli's sister said that a message sent on Sunday remained with one tick on WhatsApp. The Israeli consul is working with the hotel and the local Chabad house to locate them. The family hopes that the two will arrive today at the airport in Vienna.

The Israeli embassy in Vienna published an official statement today (Tuesday) requesting the public's assistance in locating two Israeli citizens, Meli and Liel Yahalomi, who were last seen in the Austrian capital last Friday. The 50-year-old mother and her 23-year-old daughter disappeared and contact with them has been lost since. Elinor, Meli's sister, told N12 in an exclusive conversation about the incident. The two planned their trip in advance, arriving in Vienna by train from Prague and staying at an apartment hotel in the city.

"They started in Prague and then moved to Vienna and it was planned. They bought a train ticket in advance," said Elinor.

According to her, the last contact with the two was on Friday, when they sent photos and corresponded in the family group. The family explained that the two observe Shabbat, so the lack of contact during the Sabbath did not initially cause concern.

"Shabbat ends late, so we didn't write. We said okay, and then on Sunday at nine-thirty in the morning I texted and there is one tick on WhatsApp, until today," said Elinor.

Elinor emphasized that the disappearance does not match their usual communication routine. "The exception is that they didn't make contact. I talk to my sister, I talked to her on Wednesday, on Thursday, on Friday. They sent photos on Wednesday, she messaged me privately on Thursday and photos on Friday."

Efforts to locate them in Vienna

On Sunday evening, after no response was received, the family opened a case at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' situation room. Elinor tried to contact the apartment hotel where the two were staying, but could only reach the security staff who could not help. From Monday morning, the Israeli consul entered the picture and began coordinating search operations. The consul contacted the hotel management and the local Chabad house in an attempt to obtain information.

"I am in direct contact with the consul on a constant update level," said Elinor. As of now, there is no lead that will lead to finding them, and the two did not report on Friday any suspicion or unusual event they saw. Family members are looking towards the airport in Vienna, hoping that the two will show up there today ahead of their scheduled flight to Israel.

The authorities call on anyone who has relevant details to contact the family members immediately, the local police in Austria, or directly through the emergency line of the Israeli embassy in Vienna at +43-676-3672304.