Search Continues Overnight for Missing 4-Year-Old Yuval in Ashkelon Beach Area

The search for 4-year-old Yuval, who disappeared yesterday near Hof Hofit beach in Ashkelon, is ongoing as of Friday morning. After a full night of continuous searches, additional forces joined the operation at dawn. Volunteers from ZAKA's missing persons unit in the Lachish region worked throughout the night alongside Israeli police forces. ZAKA established a command post to coordinate volunteers, divide the search area, and consolidate reports from both the public and search teams.

Search efforts are focused around the beach and surrounding areas where Yuval was last seen before his disappearance. Yuval's mother expressed deep fear and urged the public to assist in the search, stating, "I fear my son was kidnapped. The police are scouring the same area; maybe this is a kidnapping, possibly by a psychopath or for nationalist reasons." She pleaded, "These are critical hours, I need the whole country. I am a pediatrician who cares for children daily, and now I need your help. I beg you, help me. I want the entire country to help."

Rabbi Meir Buskila, commander of ZAKA Ashkelon, reported that dozens of volunteers worked intensively through the night alongside emergency services and that efforts intensified at first light with additional forces. The Ashkelon municipality called on volunteers to join the search on foot only, gathering at a command post on Ariel Sharon Road, and requested no use of motorized vehicles like ATVs or motorcycles to avoid interference. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the Israeli police or ZAKA's hotline immediately.

The search remains urgent and active, with regular situation assessments and consideration of deploying specialized units and equipment to locate Yuval.