Israel Charges 12 Over Gaza Smuggling, Including IDF Reservists

Israeli authorities on Wednesday filed charges against 12 individuals, including reservist soldiers, over their alleged involvement in smuggling prohibited goods into the Gaza Strip, a case prosecutors described as “serious, organised, and sophisticated.”

According to a statement from the Israeli Justice Ministry, the operation, which began during the summer of 2025 while the Gaza conflict was ongoing, involved the illegal transfer of goods worth millions of shekels. The items reportedly included cigarettes, iPhones, batteries, communication cables, car parts, and other high-value commodities.

The alleged smuggling network is linked to Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, who is thought to have used his IDF reserve service to facilitate the operation.

A joint statement from Israel’s police and domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, said the suspects “willfully ignored the direct contribution of this activity to the strengthening of terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip,” notably Hamas.

The 12 individuals and one company now face multiple charges, including assisting the enemy in wartime, performing actions with property for terrorist purposes, fraud under aggravated circumstances, bribery, and other economic offences.

Israel maintains tight control over all goods and movement into Gaza, where humanitarian conditions remain dire despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10, 2025.