World
Brother of Israel's Shin Bet chief charged with helping the enemy by smuggling into Gaza during wartime
February 5, 2026


The brother of Israel's Shin Bet security chief has been charged with aiding the enemy during wartime for his alleged role in a cigarette smuggling ring into Gaza. Bezalel Zini stands accused of bringing roughly 14 cartons of cigarettes into the blockaded area over the course of three trips, reportedly earning about $120,000 for the work. According to the justice ministry, this smuggling network, which also moved goods like iPhones and car parts, provided hundreds of millions of shekels in funding to Hamas. Zini’s defense attorneys deny the charges, arguing that the claim he aided the enemy is a total distortion of the truth.
World

