Israeli Police Continue Intensive Search for Missing 4-Year-Old in Ashkelon Amid Kidnapping Fears

Israeli police and security forces are conducting an extensive search for 4-year-old Yuval Kogen, who disappeared on Thursday near Hof Hofit beach in northern Ashkelon. Overnight, drones and helicopters scoured the area, and this morning large teams from the Southern District Police, air units, marine patrol, divers, and volunteers are combing the region by air, sea, and land. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has also joined the search efforts, but no leads have emerged so far.

Yuval's mother, Dr. Dina Kogen, expressed deep fear in an interview with N12, saying she suspects her son may have been kidnapped. She urged the public for help, describing the situation as critical and emphasizing the need for nationwide assistance. According to the family, Yuval disappeared while playing on a dune with his parents and siblings, losing sight of him for several minutes. She described him as mature and intelligent for his age, with emotional intelligence that makes it unlikely he would hide for long.

Yuval is described as slim with brown hair and was last seen wearing a green shirt. Police have called on the public to remain vigilant and report any information that could aid in locating him, providing emergency contact numbers for Ashkelon police and the national police hotline. Meanwhile, a separate search is underway in the Shfela region for a teenager who was swept into the sea and is missing.