Search Intensifies for Missing 4-Year-Old Yuval Kogan Near Ashkelon

The family of 4-year-old Yuval Kogan from Ashkelon has issued a public appeal for assistance in searching for him after he went missing during a family picnic in the Hofit Hills area near Ashkelon. Yuval was last seen around 12:30 PM yesterday, and since then, extensive search efforts involving police, emergency services, and numerous volunteers have been underway throughout the night and into the morning.

The search area is a large, open, and rugged terrain located between Ashkelon and Nitzanim, close to the sea. Authorities have urged volunteers to wear closed shoes due to the difficult and potentially dangerous environment, which includes bushes and pits. The police have emphasized the importance of organized and cautious participation to avoid accidents, noting that there is no suspicion of foul play but no leads on Yuval's whereabouts.

Search operations include ground patrols, aerial support with helicopters and drones equipped with thermal imaging and loudspeakers, as well as divers combing the nearby sea, since it is unclear if Yuval may have entered the water. A special command post has been established to coordinate the efforts. The Southern District Police Chief, Commissioner Haim Bublil, has overseen the operation and instructed the deployment of all available resources until Yuval is found.

The Ashkelon municipality has called on the public to join the search on foot only, forbidding motorized vehicles to ensure safety and efficiency. Anyone with information about Yuval's location is urged to contact the Israeli police emergency number or the Ashkelon police station. Yuval is described as slim, with brown hair, and was last seen wearing a green shirt.