Search Continues for Missing 4-Year-Old Yuval Kogen in Ashkelon Amid Kidnapping Fears

The search for Yuval Kogen, a 4-year-old boy missing since Thursday near Hof Hofit beach in Ashkelon, continues intensively. Police forces, the Shin Bet security service, rescue units, and volunteers are conducting extensive searches by air, sea, and land. Overnight drone scans covered the area, and large police teams resumed ground and aerial searches on Friday morning, but no leads have emerged so far.

The Shin Bet joined the search efforts last night alongside southern district police, air units, marine patrols, police divers, and additional emergency responders. Yuval's mother, Dina Kogen, expressed deep concern in an interview with N12, fearing her son may have been kidnapped. She suggested the possibility of abduction by a psychopath or a politically motivated kidnapping and called on the entire nation to assist in finding him. She described Yuval as an emotionally intelligent, mature, and smart child who would unlikely hide for long in bushes.

According to the mother, the father and children climbed a dune where Yuval briefly lost sight of them before disappearing. Police have described Yuval as slim, with brown hair, wearing a green shirt. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could help locate him, urging people to call emergency number 100 or Ashkelon police station at 08-6771440.