Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, is named as one of the suspects alleged to have trafficked goods into the Gaza Strip as part of a large-scale smuggling ring, Hebrew media outlets report.
The reports say that Bezalel Zini, who allegedly helped to smuggle cigarettes into the enclave, will be indicted in the coming days, as a prosecutor’s declaration, which precedes an indictment, is filed against him.
The reservist is one of more than a dozen individuals detained on suspicion of exploiting their roles in the army to smuggle prohibited items, worth hundreds of thousands of shekels in total, from Israel into the enclave.
The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court extended Bezalel Zini’s detention by a day yesterday. It issued a statement last week revealing that one of the Shin Bet chief’s relatives is a suspect in the case, but added that the senior official himself has no connection to the alleged scandal.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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