Israeli authorities arrested Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, on charges of “assisting the enemy in wartime.” Investigators say he took part in a smuggling network that sent cigarettes and other goods into Gaza during the Israeli blockade.

Police charged Zini along with 10 other suspects who were allegedly part of the network. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had appointed David Zini as head of the Shin Bet security agency last year.

Blockade created black market demand

Israel imposed strict controls on goods during the peak of the conflict and enforced a total blockade on Gaza. The move led to a severe humanitarian crisis and food shortages. As supplies became scarce, smuggling turned into a strong underground trade. Items like cigarettes became rare and highly valuable.

Details of the charges

According to the indictment, Bezalel Zini smuggled around 14 cartons of cigarettes into Gaza during three separate trips. Officials say he received about $120,000 in return.

The justice ministry charged Zini and the other suspects with serious offences. These include “assisting the enemy in wartime, performing transactions in property for terrorist purposes, obtaining something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, and taking bribes”.

The ministry said in a statement, “A central category of prohibited goods smuggled into the strip was tobacco and cigarettes, which have put a total of hundreds of millions of shekels into Hamas’s coffers since the start of the war.”

Investigators also found that some Israeli soldiers joined the smuggling network. They helped move goods into Gaza and earned money from the operation.

Smuggling went beyond cigarettes

Officials said the network began its activities last year. It did not only deal in tobacco. The group also smuggled high-demand items such as iPhones, batteries, car parts, and other goods that were difficult to get due to the blockade.

Lawyers reject the allegations

Zini’s lawyers denied the accusations. They said, “Regarding the offence of aiding the enemy during wartime, it is a complete inversion of reality. It’s only about cigarettes [and] any claim of aiding the enemy is baseless.”

Bezalel Zini serves as an Israeli army reservist. He also had links with a semi-official unit known as the Uriah Force. The group mostly includes right-wing volunteers. Reports say the unit brought bulldozers and heavy machinery into Gaza and took part in large-scale demolitions during the war.