Khaberni - The Public Prosecutor stated on Wednesday that indictments have been issued against 12 Israeli suspects, including reserve soldiers, for charges related to "aiding the enemy in time of war," based on suspicions of smuggling banned goods to the devastated Gaza Strip.
Israel controls the entry of all goods and persons into the besieged Palestinian territories, where the humanitarian situation remains poor, despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10.
A statement from the Ministry of Justice indicated that the value of the smuggled goods reached millions of Israeli shekels, and included cigarette cartons, iPhones, batteries, telecommunications cables, car parts, and more.
The statement described the operation as a "serious case of organized, systematic, and refined smuggling of various goods into the Gaza Strip aimed at making profits."
According to the statement, the smuggling operations began in the summer of 2025, when the war was still raging in Gaza.
Indictments have been issued against 12 individuals and one company, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice.
A joint statement from the Israeli Police and the General Security Service (Shin Bet) confirmed that they had "arrested a number of Israeli citizens and residents of the Gaza Strip who smuggled goods whose entry into the Gaza Strip is prohibited."
The statement added that among those arrested are reserve soldiers in the Israeli army.
Israeli media reported that Betzalel Zeni, the brother of the head of the Shin Bet, David Zeni, is among those suspected of involvement in smuggling cigarettes to Gaza.
The reports stated that an indictment is expected to be issued against Zeni on Thursday.
