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.
Cigarettes and iPhones © Mena Today
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.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog has resolved its outstanding questions from an investigation into secret nuclear activities in Syria under the Assad family's rule but made no progress in Iran, it said on Tuesday in confidential reports seen by Reuters.
Israeli special forces captured a Hamas militant leader in a raid in Gaza City on Tuesday while Israeli air strikes meant to protect those troops killed four Palestinians, authorities said.
Israel's political scene keeps splintering ahead of the October 27 vote, with retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter becoming the latest figure to enter the race, launching a new party, Amcha Israel.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
