Search Continues for 4-Year-Old Yuval Kogan Missing from Ashkelon Beach

The search for 4-year-old Yuval Kogan, who disappeared yesterday afternoon during a family outing at Ashkelon's northern beach, is ongoing. Security forces, including the Shin Bet and special IDF units, resumed extensive searches at dawn in the area where Yuval was last seen. His mother, Dr. Dina Kogan, expressed deep concern that her son may have been abducted, possibly for nationalist reasons, and urged authorities to activate a full kidnapping protocol immediately.

Yuval was last seen around 12:30 PM during a picnic with his father and two older sisters. According to his mother, his father lost sight of him for three to four minutes, after which Yuval vanished into the vegetation among the dunes. Surveillance footage captured Yuval with his family shortly before his disappearance. Dr. Kogan, a pediatrician, emphasized the urgency, stating that a child missing for so long is in immediate danger and that the possibility of abduction must be fully considered.

She described Yuval as a curious and emotionally intelligent child who would not hide for such an extended time on his own. She also noted that Yuval feared water and the sea was too far for him to reach alone. The family has called for intensified search efforts beyond the current area, warning that the situation is critical and asking for nationwide assistance. So far, the search has involved helicopters, maritime police, and volunteers.

The authorities continue to investigate all possibilities, including abduction by a mentally unstable individual or a politically motivated kidnapping. The mother’s plea highlights the critical nature of the case and the need for immediate and comprehensive action to locate Yuval.