Israel Police said Saturday night that 4-year-old Yuval Kogan's testimony is credible, ruling out any coaching or deliberate abduction by a third party. The child told investigators he walked alone along the sands and was not with anyone else.
Israel Police issued a statement Saturday night directly quashing online conspiracy theories about the disappearance of 4-year-old Yuval Kogan, saying the child's testimony that he walked alone is credible and that he was not coached by anyone. The statement comes hours after police had already concluded the investigation and ruled out criminal suspicion, as The Zioneer reported at 21:10 Jerusalem.
Earlier Saturday, police had announced that Yuval's testimony was found credible by a child investigator and that he walked approximately 4 km alone, stopping for rests, before being found in good health near Nitzanim beach. That bulletin, published at 21:10 Jerusalem, noted that the child chose to stay in the shade — a decision that apparently saved his life. The new statement goes further, explicitly denying any abduction or third-party coaching, addressing rumors that had circulated on social media since the child was found safe Friday evening.
The antecedents of the story trace back to Friday afternoon, when the child was reported missing and a massive search was launched. At 16:50 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported the first accounts: the child's testimony that he lost his father and walked on foot, the police commander's description of how he fell asleep in the night and was found after calling out to horses, and the ZAKA volunteer's account of a miraculous rescue. By Saturday 21:10 Jerusalem, police had consolidated the official conclusion, and the current statement reinforces that position.
As The Zioneer has reported throughout the thread, the search involved the IDF, police, and senior officials, with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog praising the solidarity shown. The ZAKA volunteer who found Yuval, Noam Simchi, described the search as guided by divine providence in an interview published Saturday evening. Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam called the reunion a 'clear miracle.' Police have not said whether they are investigating the origins of the rumors themselves, but the statement appears to close the criminal angle.
10 developments
- DevelopingNoam Simchi, who found missing child Yuval Kogan, says search was 'divine providence' in interview
- 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
- DevelopingFirst recording of emergency call that found Ashkelon child Yuval Kogan released
Source and signal
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