A ship of the Ports and Shipping Authority, equipped with advanced scanning equipment, will join the search for 4-year-old Yuval Kogan, missing in Ashkelon. The ship, operating with emergency and rescue forces, was approved for deployment by Transport Minister Miri Regev, according to Channel 12.
The search for missing 4-year-old Yuval Kogan in Ashkelon expanded further on Friday afternoon, as the Ports and Shipping Authority deployed a ship equipped with advanced scanning equipment to join the operation. Transport Minister Miri Regev approved the deployment, and the vessel will coordinate with emergency and rescue forces already on the ground, according to Channel 12. The addition of a maritime scanning ship adds a new dimension to the search, which now includes land, sea, and air efforts along the Ashkelon coastline.
The large-scale search began on Thursday after Yuval disappeared near the Ashkelon beach. By Friday morning, the operation had intensified significantly. Police helicopters were deployed to sweep the area, and Police Commissioner Danny Levi mobilized all police cadets and Border Police personnel, as The Zioneer reported at 09:59 Jerusalem. Commissioner Levi arrived at the forward command post on the beach for a situation assessment. The parents made public statements: the father, Dima, told i24NEWS that the investigation should consider criminal circumstances, saying a child cannot simply disappear; earlier, he described Yuval walking just behind him before vanishing. The mother, Dina, expressed fear of abduction and pleaded with authorities to investigate that possibility. At 10:51 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that President Isaac Herzog spoke with the mother and called on anyone who can assist to coordinate with security forces.
The police commissioner has stated that intensive efforts are ongoing day and night, emphasizing that "a child does not disappear in Israel without reason." The wide search involves hundreds of police and volunteers, along with aerial surveillance and now maritime scanning.
The cause of Yuval's disappearance remains unknown. The mother's abduction concern is unconfirmed, and no verified lead has been reported. The search continues.
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