Father says children did not enter water as Shin Bet joins search for missing 4-year-old in Ashkelon

The father of missing 4-year-old Yuval Kogan told investigators that he was walking with his son and two daughters along the beach in Ashkelon when his attention was momentarily distracted; when he turned around, the boy had vanished. The father stated that the children did not enter the water. The Shin Bet has joined the investigation to rule out unusual scenarios, according to Israeli media reports.

The father of missing 4-year-old Yuval Kogan has told investigators that he was walking with his son and two daughters along the beach in Ashkelon when his attention was momentarily distracted; when he turned around, the boy had vanished. The father stated that the children did not enter the water. This account emerged as the Shin Bet joined the search, a development The Zioneer reported earlier tonight at 21:47 Jerusalem.

The search for Kogan began Thursday afternoon at Hof Hapolit beach, with ground and aerial teams deployed. By 14:03 Jerusalem, police had transferred the case to the Shin Bet, though the agency initially denied involvement before later confirming its participation. The search expanded to include air, sea, and land forces, and a forward command post was established on the Ashkelon promenade.

As The Zioneer reported at 21:47 Jerusalem, police formally requested Shin Bet assistance in locating and investigating the disappearance. The Shin Bet's involvement is aimed at ruling out unusual scenarios, including the possibility of an abduction or a security-related incident. The community in Ashkelon has been mobilized in the search efforts.

At this stage, all investigation directions remain open. The boy's whereabouts are unknown, and no central direction has been established in the investigation.

13 developments

1. 18 minutes ago · 00:02 · 24 JulLatest

   Hundreds of police, rescue forces, and air support involved in search.

2. 22:55 · 23 Jul

   Search for missing child continues into the night.

3. 22:51 · 23 Jul

   Israel Livestock Unit for Search and Rescue joins the search effort.

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