Mother of Yuval Kogan: 'I don't pay attention to rumors - a miracle happened to us'

Two days after four-year-old Yuval Kogan, who disappeared at Dogit Beach in Ashkelon, was found and returned to his family, his mother Dina said she is still struggling to process the event. She refuses to give importance to rumors on social media, defines the event as a great miracle, and expresses gratitude for the mutual responsibility in Israel. Yuval was found at Nitzanim Beach, ten kilometers from where he went missing, after a day of searches.

Two days after four-year-old Yuval Kogan, who disappeared at Dogit Beach in Ashkelon, was found and returned to his family, his mother Dina told Walla today (Sunday) that she is still struggling to process the event. "Yuval has already moved on, but we are still trying to process it," she said. Dina said she and her husband refuse to give importance to the many rumors circulating on social media about the case. "I don't pay attention to rumors and evil. A great miracle happened to us," she said. She added that she is receiving hundreds of messages of joy and support from friends and people she doesn't know. "We have gratitude to everyone and great thanks for the beautiful land of Israel," Dina continued, clarifying that "only in our country is there such mutual responsibility." When asked about Yuval, she replied that he is "a sweet and strong child - much stronger than I thought," and that he is behaving normally. About her husband she said, "I have an amazing husband, flawless. His nickname in the neighborhood is Father of the Year." As recalled, after a day of searches, last Friday Yuval Kogan was found at Nitzanim Beach, about ten kilometers from where he disappeared at Dogit Beach in Ashkelon. The searches began after receiving the report of his disappearance. Helicopters, maritime patrol, divers, and rescue units were dispatched to the scene, scanning the coastline and adjacent areas. Hours before the discovery, Yuval's parents expressed grave concern for his life. His mother Dina said in an interview that she feared a kidnapping and asked for public help in the searches. Yuval's father described the moments of disappearance, noting that the child was standing close to him and vanished within five minutes, and added that in his opinion the circumstances of the disappearance were suspicious due to the large number of people passing through the area.