In Ashkelon, 4-year-old Yuval Kogan disappeared without a trace: what is known about the search for the child

In Israel, a large-scale operation continues to search for four-year-old Yuval Kogan, who disappeared on the afternoon of July 23, 2026, in the area of Hofit Beach in Ashkelon. The child is being searched for by police officers, rescuers, divers, marine units, dog handlers, drone operators, and hundreds of volunteers. The Israeli General Security Service — SHABAK — has also joined the investigation into the circumstances of the disappearance.

As of the morning of Friday, July 24, the search had been ongoing for almost a day, but there were no reports of the boy being found. The last published video shows Yuval next to his father and two sisters shortly before his disappearance.

What happened near Hofit Beach

The family went for a picnic in the area of sand dunes between the shoreline and the high coastal slope. Yuval was with his father and two sisters.

According to the child’s mother, Dina Kogan, at some point, the boy became interested in a bush and walked away. The father was distracted by the daughters for a few minutes, after which he discovered that Yuval had disappeared. The family began searching for him on their own, and approximately 15 minutes later, the mother joined the search.

The official report of the disappearance was received by the police around 1:00 PM. In various testimonies, the time when the boy was last seen is indicated approximately between 12:30 and 12:50 on July 23.

The mother said that the child did not cry or call for help. According to her, there were practically no other people nearby, so the family does not understand how a four-year-old boy could disappear in a few minutes without leaving noticeable traces.

The parents gave detailed statements to the police. Israeli media report that investigators are checking all possible versions. There is no public information that the father or other relatives are suspected of committing a crime.

The last video of Yuval Kogan

On the morning of July 24, surveillance camera footage was published showing Yuval walking with his father and sisters. The video is considered the last confirmed image of the child before his disappearance.

The mother describes Yuval as a curious, active, and intelligent boy who speaks well and clearly.

According to the data provided by the family, he might have been wearing:

• dark pants;
• a white T-shirt with green stripes;
• gray sports shoes;
• a white cap with his name.

There is a noticeable mole on the child’s left cheek. In the initial police description, the clothing was described more briefly: a green T-shirt, a slim build, and brown hair.

The editorial staff of “NANews — Israel News Nikk.Agency” emphasizes: due to differences in clothing descriptions, it is necessary to focus primarily on the child’s face, age, build, brown hair, and mole on the left cheek.

Searches are being conducted on land, at sea, and from the air

Immediately after the report was received, the police launched an operation along the Ashkelon coast. It involves officers from the Southern District Police, the aviation unit, marine police, divers, rescue organizations, firefighters, municipal services, and volunteers.

For surveying the area, the following are used:

• police helicopters;
• drones and thermal imaging equipment;
• marine police boats;
• divers;
• service dogs;
• off-road vehicles and ATVs;
• special equipment for surveying dunes and hard-to-reach areas.

Searches are not only being conducted near Hofit Beach. The operation area has been expanded along the northern coast of Ashkelon towards Nitzanim. This is a complex terrain with high and low dunes, sandy depressions, shrubs, and numerous places where a small child might be unnoticed from the air.

The drone unit of the organization “Ichud Hatzalah” has deployed a special command post. Fire crews with equipment designed for off-road movement are also participating in the operation.

The head of the Southern District Police, Haim Bublil, held a special meeting on-site and ordered the search to continue at night, expand the survey area, and utilize all available resources. Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam arrived at the scene, reporting that municipal inspectors and city units are working together with the police.

Why SHABAK was involved in the operation

The involvement of SHABAK became one of the main reasons for increased public attention to the child’s disappearance. The security service joined the investigation of the circumstances and the search for possible information that could help establish Yuval’s route after his disappearance.

However, SHABAK’s involvement does not mean that the version of abduction or an incident on nationalist grounds has already been confirmed. The police officially state that they are considering all directions of the investigation and have not yet declared any version as the main one.

The involvement of the special service may be related to the need to check for a possible criminal or terrorist link, as well as SHABAK’s access to additional technical capabilities, communication systems, and movement analysis. This is a likely explanation, but official structures have not yet disclosed what specific actions the service’s employees are performing.

The mother fears that the child might have been abducted

Dina Kogan publicly called for the search to be expanded beyond the already surveyed area. She stated that every lost minute could be critical and asked the country’s residents, rescuers, and volunteers to join the operation.

The mother admits that the disappearance may be related not only to an accident but also to abduction, a criminal incident, or an attack on nationalist grounds. However, no evidence confirming these concerns has been published at this time.

According to Dina, Yuval cannot swim and is afraid of the sea. Therefore, she considers the version of the child independently entering the water less likely. Nevertheless, the police and rescue services continue to survey the sea, as this possibility cannot be ruled out until the exact circumstances are established.

A family friend said that the area of disappearance has been repeatedly surveyed by volunteers, drones, dog handlers, and rescuers. According to him, the absence of any traces after such a large-scale check makes the relatives ask the police to search beyond the initial zone.

Where to report information

The Israel Police asks residents of Ashkelon, drivers, fishermen, beachgoers, and everyone who was in the Hofit area on July 23 to check recordings from car dashcams, home cameras, and mobile phones.

Even a minor detail — a child on the road, a car near the dunes, a stranger, or movement in the bushes — can help reconstruct the events.

Information should be immediately reported to:

Israel Police emergency number — 100;

Ashkelon Police Department — 08-6771440.

Do not independently spread unconfirmed versions, accuse relatives, or publish data that may hinder the investigation. The main task now is to find Yuval as quickly as possible and provide the police with any information that can narrow the search area.

According to data collected by “NANews — Israel News Nikk.Agency”, the search operation continued on the morning of July 24, all main versions remained open, and there was no confirmed information about the whereabouts of four-year-old Yuval Kogan.