Israel indicts brother of Shin Bet chief for aiding enemy during Gaza war

The case has sent shockwaves through Israel’s security establishment. The brother of the head of the Shin Bet has been charged with “aiding the enemy in wartime,” the public prosecutor announced on Thursday.

Betzalel Zini, an Israeli army reservist, was indicted alongside two other suspects in connection with a large-scale smuggling operation that allegedly funneled goods into the Gaza Strip during Israel’s ongoing war with the Hamas.

According to the indictment, the suspects ran an “organized, systematic and sophisticated” smuggling network beginning in June 2025. Investigators say the group illegally brought cartons of cigarettes into Gaza by deceiving soldiers at border crossings, falsely claiming they were entering the enclave as part of official military security missions.

At the time of the alleged offenses, Betzalel Zini was serving as a reservist and commanding a civil engineering unit operating inside Gaza. His brother, Major General David Zini, was appointed head of the Shin Bet in October 2025.

Prosecutors state that the defendants were fully aware that the prohibited goods could reach Hamas operatives and that there was a high likelihood the smuggling would directly assist Israel’s enemy during wartime.

So far, twelve individuals and one company have been charged in the case, which has raised serious concerns about internal security breaches and abuse of military access amid an active conflict.