Jerusalem, 7 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Namibian authorities have reportedly identified two women arrested with forged passports as Iranian nationals, despite their presenting themselves as Israeli mother and daughter Mali and Liel Yahalomi.
The women were arrested in Namibia after allegedly presenting false travel documents, according to reports reaching Israeli authorities. Their arrest is the latest twist in an unusual case that began in August, when the pair disappeared during a trip to Europe and triggered an international search. They were eventually located alive in Argentina, where an Israeli police representative questioned them and determined that they had left voluntarily.
No criminal suspicion was raised at the time.
Israeli police are aware of the Namibian arrest but are not involved in the local investigation, since the alleged offense occurred in Namibia. Authorities are now seeking to establish the women’s identities, how they traveled from Argentina to Namibia, and why they allegedly used forged passports.