The Israel Police announced on Friday evening that mother and daughter Mali and Liel Yahalomi, who had been missing since last Friday, have been found alive.
Footage released by the Israel Police showed the two being located aboard a bus in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“The Israel Police, in full cooperation with all security agencies and relevant entities in Israel and abroad, operated over the past few days in an extensive and focused effort to locate the missing women," the Israel Police said.
“Under the direction of the Israel Police Commissioner, Chief Commissioner Danny Levy, the police - led by Lahav 433 and the Police Intelligence Division - operated command centers in Israel and overseas 24/7. They allocated all necessary resources and capabilities to locate them and executed hundreds of investigative actions."
“Following extensive efforts and joint cooperation among all agencies, including Europol and additional foreign law enforcement organizations, the missing women were located. The Israel Police expresses its gratitude to all partners in Israel and abroad for their cooperation and assistance throughout the search efforts," the statement concluded.
A senior police official told Channel 12 News that investigators tracked the pair's route down to the specific bus they were traveling on. According to the source, police knew early on that their departure was likely voluntary and made without any threats, but required physical verification on the ground.
The official added that once contact was established with the two women and it was confirmed they were safe and not involved in a criminal incident, the police investigation reached its conclusion. Because there were no grounds for detention or arrest, the two were allowed to continue on their way.
The official said that the two accumulated financial debts, which prompted them to leave Israel.
The Yahalomi family said in a statement, “Above all, the family feels immense relief that Mali and Liel have been located and are alive."
“The family wishes to thank the Israeli public for their concern and goodwill, as well as the Israel Police, the Israeli Consul in Vienna, Magen Search and Rescue, and the rescue team members."
The announcement that the two were found alive was made just after Austrian police officially confirmed that the mother and daughter had left Vienna, where they had last been seen prior to Friday night, independently.
Israeli media outlets then reported that the two had left Vienna by train for Germany and flew from there to Argentina.
Amid widespread speculation surrounding the case, the missing mother and daughter’s family issued a plea earlier to security forces to investigate every possible scenario.
"For a week now, we wake up every morning with the same prayer - to find you safe and sound and bring you home. Please do not stop searching," the family said. They added that they "demand all security and investigative authorities continue examining all potential scenarios, including the possibility of a terror-related motive, until it is definitively ruled out based on concrete findings."
Previously, new footage obtained as part of the investigation into the disappearance showed the two leaving the apartment building where they were staying in Vienna, carrying their personal belongings, with no other person seen alongside them.
(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)