The mother of Yuval Kogan, 4, who disappeared Thursday afternoon while exploring dunes on Ashkelon's northern beach, is urging authorities to expand the search beyond a single area and consider the possibility of abduction.
Yuval went missing around 12:30 p.m. during a family outing when he began examining vegetation in the dune area. His father lost sight of him for three to four minutes. Security camera footage released Thursday shows the boy moments before he disappeared.
Dina Kogan, a pediatrician, told Israeli media that she does not believe her son simply wandered off. "I'm afraid this is a case of abduction, not just a child who got lost," she said. "I'm asking them to search on the scale of a kidnapping. It's a matter of life or death."
The boy does not know how to swim and is afraid of water. His mother described him as intelligent and curious, but said it is unlikely he would remain hidden for such an extended period. She voiced concerns about possible involvement by a third party, citing both psychological and nationalist motives as possibilities.
