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Israeli reservist accused of wartime smuggling for Hamas
Israeli prosecutors have charged Bezalel Zini, the brother of the country's newly appointed Shin Bet intelligence chief, with "aiding the enemy in wartime" after allegedly smuggling thousands of cigarettes into Gaza.
The allegations
Zini, a 50-year-old reservist on active military duty, is accused of transporting 14 cartons-7,000 cigarette packets-into Gaza in exchange for 365,000 shekels ($117,000; £86,000). The indictment, filed Thursday, claims he knew Hamas could resell the tobacco at inflated prices, funneling profits into its operations.
Prosecutors allege the smuggling ring, active since summer 2025, disguised its activities as military operations to deceive border soldiers. The group is also accused of trafficking high-end iPhones, car parts, and electronics into Gaza.
Broader crackdown on smuggling
The charges are part of a wider investigation targeting over a dozen individuals. Authorities claim the tobacco trade alone has generated "hundreds of millions of shekels" for Hamas since the war began. Israel has enforced strict controls on goods entering Gaza during the conflict.
Family ties and legal defense
Zini's brother, David Zini, who recently took over as Shin Bet director, is not implicated in the case. The accused reservist faces additional charges of fraud, bribery, and tax violations. Two alleged accomplices were also arrested and charged.
"This is a complete inversion of reality. My client has risked his life for the state," one of Zini's lawyers told Haaretz, arguing the terrorism-related charges were misapplied to a cigarette-smuggling case.
Context of the conflict
The indictment highlights tensions over Gaza's humanitarian aid, which Israel tightly regulates. Prosecutors say the smuggling network exploited military cover to bypass border checks before the October 2025 ceasefire.
