Yuval Kogan
Yuval Kogan is a four-year-old Israeli child whose disappearance in Ashkelon in July 2026 sparked a massive national search operation involving the IDF, police, and senior government officials before he was safely located.
Yuval Kogan, a four-year-old boy, became the center of a high-priority national search effort after he was reported missing in Ashkelon on Thursday, July 23, 2026. The incident, which began near the Giv'ot Hofit and Hof Chofit beach areas, quickly escalated from a local police matter into a significant domestic event involving the highest levels of Israeli leadership. The search operation was characterized by an extensive mobilization of resources, including Israel Police units, Border Police (Magav), and specialized rescue teams. As the search entered its second day on Friday, July 24, Police Commissioner Danny Levi ordered all available units to participate, while the Navy deployed a ship equipped with advanced scanning technology to comb the coastal waters. The case drew personal involvement from President Isaac Herzog, who maintained contact with Yuval's mother, Dina Kogan, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who visited the scene to meet with the family. The disappearance occurred against a backdrop of extreme regional tension involving Iran, yet it dominated the Israeli public consciousness, highlighting national resilience and the community's capacity for rapid mobilization. Amid the search, the family and political figures raised questions regarding the circumstances of the disappearance, with Yuval's father suggesting 'something fishy' was involved and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid critiquing the timeline of the response. The ordeal concluded on the afternoon of Friday, July 24, when Yuval was successfully located and reunited with his mother after being missing for approximately 24 hours. The successful resolution was marked by spontaneous celebrations on the Ashkelon beach, reflecting the deep emotional investment of the Israeli public in the child's safety.