Yaniv Sardal, a 53-year-old Ariel resident who had been missing since Wednesday evening, was found alive in the Qalqilya area following hours of extensive searches.
The searches began Wednesday night after information was received indicating that Sardal had voluntarily entered a Palestinian Arab village in Samaria. Security officials had evidence showing that he arrived at the village at approximately 6:00 p.m. and entered of his own free will.
During the searches, there was no intelligence indicating that his disappearance was connected to a terrorist incident, and he was classified as a missing person. However, security officials did not completely rule out a security-related scenario and launched an extensive effort to locate him.
Israel Police, Shin Bet, Israel Prison Service, and IDF worked together in the search, including through the establishment of a joint inter-agency command center. The forces employed technological capabilities and intelligence-gathering measures alongside searches on the ground.
The Israel Prison Service's elite Metzada Unit also joined the operation, while a helicopter from the Israel Police Aerial Division was dispatched to assist in the search.
After hours of joint activity, Sardal was found alive in the Qalqilya area, bringing the extensive overnight search operation to an end.