A volunteer from United Hatzalah spotted 4-year-old Yuval Kogan standing under a tree near Nitzanim beach Friday afternoon. The child was dehydrated but conscious and in good condition. The volunteer thanked God, saying 'there are miracles in the world.'
A United Hatzalah volunteer spotted 4-year-old Yuval Kogan standing under a tree near Nitzanim beach Friday afternoon, the volunteer told The Zioneer. The child was dehydrated but conscious and in good condition. The volunteer thanked God, saying, 'There are miracles in the world.'
Rescue services first announced at 14:56 Jerusalem that the missing child had been located safe and healthy at a beach in Ashkelon, without specifying the beach or condition. Shortly after, at 16:21 Jerusalem, Yuval's mother spoke to him for the first time since his disappearance, as The Zioneer reported. The volunteer's firsthand account, provided to The Zioneer, added the location and details of the child's condition.
The search for Yuval Kogan began in late July 2026, drawing national attention. The Prison Service deployed the Tzur unit, which supervises sex offenders, along with drone teams and special forces, as The Zioneer reported at 14:56 Jerusalem. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said earlier Friday that the child could have been found already in August, and the father expressed suspicions to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who said he would meet with the Shin Bet director.
The circumstances of how Yuval arrived at the beach remain unclear, and the investigation continues.
9 developments
- DevelopingPresident Herzog speaks with mother of missing child, calls for help in search
- StrongVolunteer who found missing child Yuval Kogan: 'He was in a place where no living soul could survive'
- DevelopingNetanyahu congratulates on safe return of Yuval Kogan, cites 'mutual responsibility'
- DevelopingFather of missing Ashkelon child tells Ben Gvir 'something fishy'; minister says he will meet Shin Bet chief
Source and signal
- Open-source intake