Israeli police issued an unusually harsh public rebuke tonight after several WhatsApp information groups in the chareidi community circulated false claims that the search for missing 19-year-old Eliyahu Aba Shaul in the Yarkon River area had been halted.
The rumors spread through multiple community WhatsApp groups, prompting police to release an immediate and strongly worded denial. According to the statement, group administrators had distributed inaccurate and misleading information that did not match official briefings.
Police wrote that the WhatsApp reports were “fake, false and misleading,” stressing that the individuals running these groups had failed to adhere to the verified and accurate updates provided by the police spokesperson’s office.
Authorities clarified that, contrary to the incorrect claims circulating online, the search operation had never been paused. Officials emphasized that on Thursday night, during the early stages of the search, police found clothing belonging to the missing teen near the Yarkon River, close to Rokach Street in Ramat Gan. Those items were collected as part of the investigation.
Police added that the false rumors contradicted the established facts and urged all media sources — including WhatsApp group administrators — to verify information before distributing it to large audiences.
Officers stressed that the search for Aba Shaul is ongoing and remains a top priority. The operation began early Thursday morning after his parents reported that he had left home Wednesday evening and never returned.
Since then, large teams from the Dan District and the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station, along with volunteers, emergency responders, advanced technological units, and community search groups, have been working continuously. The discovery of his clothing and electric bicycle near the river heightened concerns and accelerated the search efforts.
Police continued operating throughout Shabbos and into Motzoei Shabbos, while also responding to calls to the 100 emergency hotline about possible leads. Officials urged the public to continue providing any relevant information.
The police message to the public emphasized two key points: first, that any information about the missing teen should be reported immediately to the 100 hotline, and second, that unauthorized individuals must not enter the river under any circumstances due to the dangerous conditions and the need to keep the area clear for trained rescue teams.
