Israel Indicts Shin Bet Chief's Brother for Assisting Enemy After Smuggling Cigarettes into Occupied Gaza

Israeli prosecutors have indicted Bezalel Zini, a 50-year-old military reservist and the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini.

“The Israeli public prosecutor on Thursday filed an indictment against the brother of the head of the Israeli internal security service (the Shin Bet), including "assisting the enemy in time of war," on suspicion of smuggling cigarettes into the besieged Gaza Strip”

Al-Jazeera Net

He is charged with smuggling cigarettes and other goods into besieged Gaza and with offenses including aiding or assisting the enemy during wartime, transactions for terrorist purposes, aggravated fraud and taking bribes.

Al-Jazeera Net

Authorities say Zini brought roughly 14 cartons of cigarettes into Gaza on multiple occasions and received payment for the runs.

Prosecutors describe the case as part of a wider organized smuggling operation that moved millions of shekels' worth of contraband into the Strip.

Zini denies the allegations and his lawyers say claims he aided the enemy are baseless and that it was only about cigarettes.

Prosecutors portray the operation as structured and repeatable, saying defendants allegedly used convoy-entry permits, IDF procedures and, in some runs, military uniforms to move contraband through the Sufa crossing and other points into a closed Gaza during the war.

The indictment and reporting list cigarettes and tobacco as the main commodity, but also mention iPhones, batteries, communication cables, car spare parts and other items.

Attack of the Fanboy

Authorities say the network sometimes disguised shipments as operational needs or humanitarian consignments, and that suppliers in the West Bank and couriers on both sides of the crossings facilitated transfers into Gaza.

The case is politically sensitive because Bezalel Zini is the brother of Shin Bet director David Zini.

“A brief roundup of recent developments: - A legal case is highlighted by a lawyer who called the defendant “someone who has given everything and risked his life for the state,” portraying the person as a devoted figure in court coverage”

BBC

Outlets report that David Zini has not been charged, and authorities shifted parts of the probe away from Shin Bet.

The police Southern District took charge of some aspects of the investigation.

Media coverage varies: some reports stress Shin Bet's recusal and official statements that there is no evidence linking David Zini to the allegations.

Other outlets and commentators note criticism of David Zini's silence and scrutiny over his appointment and background.

Prosecutors and the justice ministry say the smuggling materially strengthened Hamas’s economic control in Gaza by funneling revenue from contraband sales into the enclave.

Officials told reporters that tobacco and cigarettes have generated "hundreds of millions of shekels" for Hamas since the war began.

BBC

Reporting places the case in the wider context of massive Palestinian deaths and destruction in Gaza.

The Guardian cites UN and rights groups describing the Gaza campaign — with more than 70,000 Palestinians killed in its account — as amounting to genocide.

Regional outlets give higher casualty figures and describe continued Israeli operations blamed for thousands more casualties after a ceasefire.

The legal scope and political fallout remain contested in reporting.

“World Bezalel Zini, the brother of Israel's Shin Bet chief David Zini, has been charged for smuggling cartons of cigarettes into Gaza”

CNA

Outlets variously report that prosecutors charged 12 people and a company, or at least 13 people, and they disagree on other details.

CNA

Reports also differ on amounts co-defendants earned, with one saying Halperin received roughly 4.3 million shekels and another listing early splits of NIS 30,000.

Media coverage records seizure requests for assets and alleged links to right-wing volunteers.

There is renewed debate about rules for senior officials whose relatives are accused of serious crimes, including references to Grunis Committee Clause 14 and calls from parts of the right for David Zini to consider his position.