Brother of Shin Bet chief named as suspect in Gaza smuggling case after court lifts gag order

The brother of the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, was revealed to be among the suspects in a large-scale cigarette-smuggling operation into the Gaza Strip after the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court partially lifted a broad gag order on the case.

Judge Yaniv Ben Harush said he allowed the publication of the names of three suspects, including Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet Director David Zini, to “disperse the heavy cloud surrounding them” amid rumors and speculation about the secret investigation.

“It is important that the public knows that tanks or drones were not smuggled, otherwise people believe rumors published online,” Ben Harush explained.

Nevertheless, the Israel Police and the Shin Bet stressed in a joint statement published on Wednesday that "the smuggling activities pose a significant threat to the security of the State of Israel."

Shin Bet is responsible for intelligence gathering in the Gaza Strip and would, therefore, be the obvious agency to investigate this case. However, Bezalel Zini was reportedly questioned by the Israel Police to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest involving his brother.

Shin Bet and the Israel Police announced that "the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office filed indictments against 12 of those involved in the affair, for offenses including aiding the enemy during wartime, prohibited activity involving property for terrorist purposes, obtaining property by fraud under aggravated circumstances, bribery offenses, and financial crimes."

Reacting to the news, Rabbi Yosef Zini, the father of Bezalel and David, told Ynet News, “Everything is fabricated, without any real concern. They are not trying to bring him down, but his brother. Thank God the public understands this very well.”

According to the joint statement by Shin Bet and police, several Israeli citizens, including reserve soldiers, were arrested after intelligence indicated that those involved in the smuggling operation had exploited "the new reality on the ground that began with the ceasefire agreement... and the large-scale entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip."

"These networks involve dozens of Israelis, [Arab] residents of Judea and Samaria, and residents of the Gaza Strip, who carried out this activity while turning a blind eye to its direct contribution to the strengthening of terrorist organizations in Gaza—chief among them Hamas."

According to Israeli media outlets, the smuggling operation is connected to several individuals, including Bezalel, who served in the Gaza Strip as reserve soldiers. Bezalel Zini reportedly served in a military reserve unit that was tasked with demolishing buildings in the Gaza Strip, giving him access to trucks bringing goods into the enclave.

According to Channel 12 News, Zini’s role in the affair is considered “minor” compared to other suspects.

The investigation reportedly began after IDF soldiers spotted a suspicious truck near the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip and discovered drones, dozens of telephones, batteries, pesticides, and electric cables being smuggled.

A source involved in the investigation told Channel 12 that other suspects testified that Zini knew about the smuggling and allowed it continue in return for cash. Israeli security officials noted that they knew of no attempt to smuggle weapons into Gaza via the aid trucks.

Army Radio published a detailed report on Wednesday, based on a security system analysis, showing that Hamas has earned millions of shekels by selling cigarette packs or heavily taxing their sale in the enclave. Hamas reportedly earns hundreds of shekels per pack of cigarettes, amounting to millions per month, the report said, noting that this highlighted the fact that the contraband doesn’t have to include weapons to pose a security risk to Israel.

Hamas reportedly uses the money it earns from the sale of “harmless” goods to restore its military capabilities.

According to Army Radio, a pack of cigarettes cost about NIS 20 before the war began in October 2023, with a single cigarette priced at around NIS 2.50.

After the war began, the halt of cigarette imports, which are not considered humanitarian aid, caused prices to rise to NIS 70 per pack by December 2023. Then it skyrocketed to NIS 900 per pack and NIS 45 for a single cigarette in April 2024.

In the summer of 2024, smuggling ramped up, pushing prices down. When the ceasefire began in October 2025, smuggling under the cover of the massive volume of aid caused the price to fall to NIS 100 per pack.

However, the report noted that prices have since risen again to approximately NIS 400–450 ($129.50–$145.70) per pack. Investigators assess that this is caused by the growing discourse in Israel about intercepting cigarette smuggling, which has raised concern in Gaza that volumes will decrease, driving prices up again.

The rising prices in Gaza, in turn, are fueling efforts by Israelis, including soldiers, to earn quick cash by enabling or directly facilitating smuggling operations.

The smuggling of goods helps "Hamas’s survival and governance due to the economic profits generated from goods brought into the Strip," Shin Bet and police stressed. "These profits contribute to Hamas’s strengthening, force build-up, and restoration of military capabilities through the smuggling of goods that support production systems, as well as the smuggling of equipment, capabilities, and technological means—and even the potential smuggling of weapons."

"Additionally, the smuggling routes themselves pose a threat by potentially serving as platforms for advancing offensive military activity against Israel and against Israeli forces operating in the Gaza Strip."