Awkward: Shin Bet Chief's Brother Indicted for Aiding Hamas during the War
Betzalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet director, charged with aiding the enemy after allegedly smuggling 14 million shekels worth of cigarettes into Gaza. Two IDF reservists also indicted.
The State Prosecutor's Office filed indictments Thursday against Betzalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, on charges of aiding the enemy during wartime.
Zini was indicted alongside two others in Beer Sheva District Court: Aviel Ben David, 31, of Kiryat Gat, an IDF reservist in "Uriah Force," and Amir Dov Halperin, 38, who knew Ben David. The prosecution also filed a motion for detention until the end of proceedings and property forfeiture.
According to the indictment, the defendants conducted organized, systematic and sophisticated smuggling of goods into Gaza in exchange for profit while IDF operations continued in the strip after the ceasefire and while hostages remain held by Hamas.
Zini is accused of three smuggling rounds involving approximately 14 cartons of cigarettes, from which he allegedly earned 365,000 shekels. Halperin is charged with five smuggling rounds for which he received approximately 4.3 million shekels (part of the sum was divided among some defendants). Ben David is accused of five smuggling rounds for which he received approximately 815,000 shekels (two rounds were completed but payment was not transferred).
The indictment states the defendants acted knowing the smuggled goods could reach Hamas and its operatives, strengthening the organization economically. The main contraband smuggled into the strip was tobacco and cigarettes, which brought the terror organization a total of hundreds of millions of shekels since the war began.
According to indictments filed by attorneys Hila Dreamer-Yair and Eliya Fox from the Southern District Prosecutor's Office, the smuggled goods included cartons of cigarettes worth millions of shekels. This occurred while the Gaza Strip was a closed military zone during wartime, when entry was permitted only for operational needs and under organized inspection.
The enormous profits helped Hamas consolidate its rule and led to exorbitant price increases. Profits from selling the products enabled the organization to pay salaries to its operatives and recruit new activists.
Zini was responsible for the logistical operations of "Uriah Force" and held entry permits for vehicle convoys into the strip.
The indictment states the defendants, along with others including Eliran Algarbali, Avishai Algabali, Meni Abutbul and Ofer Sanker, operated in changing configurations to smuggle cigarettes while dividing profits from sales. They misled soldiers at Gaza crossings by falsely presenting themselves as entering for military security purposes.
Charges include aiding the enemy during wartime, obtaining items by fraud under aggravating circumstances, taking bribes, and bribery offenses. Ben David and Halperin were also charged with giving bribes. The defendants were additionally charged with tax offenses and violations under the Counter-Terrorism Law.
The indictment states the defendants and their partners knew the smuggled goods could reach terror elements including Hamas or its representatives, and serve to strengthen their power and advance and finance their operations. They committed their acts for monetary profit, knowing they were circumventing restrictions Israel imposed on bringing goods into Gaza as part of the war effort, despite the clear security damage inherent in their actions.
The prosecution filed a motion to forfeit the defendants' property. The case was investigated by the Southern District Police, Shin Bet and the Yahalom unit at the Tax Authority.