Jerusalem — February 5, 2026 — The brother of Israel’s top security official has been indicted on charges of aiding the enemy during wartime, stemming from allegations he operated a smuggling ring into Gaza while a strict Israeli blockade was in effect. It’s a scandal that’s raising uncomfortable questions about potential profiteering during a devastating conflict.
Smuggling Network Allegedly Reached Deep Into Israeli Security
The case involves cigarettes, iPhones, and accusations of corruption reaching into the ranks of those enforcing the blockade.
- Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, faces charges including assisting the enemy and bribery.
- The alleged smuggling operation involved cigarettes, iPhones, car parts, and other goods entering Gaza.
- Some Israeli soldiers are suspected of profiting from the scheme.
- The indictment claims Zini exploited his position and a semi-official unit to facilitate the smuggling.
Bezalel Zini, 50, is one of more than 10 individuals charged in connection with the alleged network. His brother, David Zini, heads the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, having been appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last May and assuming the role in October.
Q: What are the core accusations against Bezalel Zini?
A: He’s accused of smuggling approximately 14 cartons of cigarettes into Gaza over three trips, allegedly receiving around $120,000 (£88,700) for his involvement, and of exploiting his position to do so.
Israel has maintained control over goods entering Gaza and enforced a comprehensive blockade, particularly during the recent conflict, which led to widespread famine. Smuggling flourished under these conditions, with cigarettes becoming a rare and expensive luxury. At the height of the conflict, a single cigarette could fetch $15 (£11), while a carton of 50 could cost nearly $15,000 (£11,060).
The indictment, announced on Thursday, alleges that Zini and his co-defendants engaged in “assisting the enemy in wartime, performing transactions in property for terrorist purposes, obtaining something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, and taking bribes,” according to the justice ministry. The ministry stated that hundreds of millions of shekels have flowed into Hamas coffers through the smuggling of tobacco and cigarettes since the start of the war.
Beyond cigarettes, the network allegedly smuggled iPhones, batteries, and car parts into Gaza, beginning operations last year. Zini’s legal team has vehemently denied the charges, calling the accusation of aiding the enemy a “complete inversion of reality,” according to Haaretz. They downplayed the severity of the alleged offenses, arguing that the case revolves solely around cigarettes and that any claim of aiding the enemy is unfounded.
Zini is an Israeli army reservist and also a member of the Uriah Force, a small, semi-official unit comprised largely of right-wing extremist volunteers. This unit reportedly used bulldozers and heavy equipment in Gaza, participating in widespread demolitions during the war. An investigation last September in Haaretz revealed that the Uriah Force operated outside the official army command structure.
The indictment alleges that Zini “exploited his position” and used the cover of moving Uriah Force equipment in and out of Gaza to smuggle the cigarettes. The right-wing newspaper Israel Hayom criticized David Zini’s silence regarding his brother’s involvement, stating that while he shouldn’t be penalized for his brother’s actions if convicted, he has a duty to address the treason allegations and related conspiracy theories.
The conflict in Gaza, in which more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, has been described by a UN independent commission and human rights organizations as a potential genocide.
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