Police move to indict ring smuggling goods to Gaza that includes Shin Bet chief’s relative

Law enforcement on Thursday moved to prosecute a number of suspects, including a relative of Shin Bet chief David Zini, who allegedly helped smuggle goods from Israel into Gaza in exchange for cash.

Police filed a prosecutor’s declaration to the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, a procedural step before indictments are submitted, likely next week.

The court later issued a statement revealing that one of the suspects is Zini’s relative, while stressing that the Shin Bet chief has no connection to the alleged smuggling.

However, in light of the relative’s ties to the agency, the case is being investigated by the Israel Police, instead of the Shin Bet, the court said.

Hebrew media outlets reported varying numbers of suspects. Channel 12 news reported that 11 were accused, while the Ynet news site reported 13.

Earlier this week, the Ashkelon court partially lifted an earlier gag order on the probe that implicates soldiers, civilians, and security agencies in a widespread smuggling ring, according to Haaretz.

The court barred the publication of any further details, including anything that could identify the suspects. The gag order is in place until February 10.

Zini’s father, Rabbi Yosef Zini, posted in a closed social media group on Sunday that “there is no doubt that it is all a filthy lie,” in an apparent reference to the smuggling affair.

“Even if they bring video, pictures as supposed evidence, there is no doubt that it is all fabricated in order to harm the ‘suspect’ and his family,” he said, according to Channel 12 news. “Everyone who believes this story is on the verge of helping to spill the blood of righteous people!”

Several Hebrew media outlets have petitioned the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court to lift what remains of the gag order and allow for the publication of the case’s details in full.

Judge Yaniv Harush is set to issue a ruling on the petitions later on Thursday.

According to a Channel 12 news report, there has been a growing phenomenon of Israelis smuggling goods into Gaza in recent months, with the network broadcasting footage in which an Israeli showed the outlet where he hid cartons of cigarettes in rubble for Palestinians living near the border to pick up.

Much of the smuggled goods comes on aid trucks, according to the report, which shows additional footage of hidden compartments in aid trucks holding cigarettes, iPhones and even electric bikes. The goods end up contributing to Hamas coffers in Gaza, Channel 12 reported.

The Gazans involved in the smuggling transfer money to West Bank associates, who then send it abroad before it is moved to money transfer agents in Israel. One of the Israeli smugglers was found with NIS 700,000 in cash.

Attempts to smuggle contraband into Gaza using aid trucks are expected to rise, security officials said Thursday morning, noting that Israel had so far mainly foiled attempts to bring in cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as some prohibited agricultural products.

There has been no known attempt to smuggle weapons into Gaza using the aid trucks, according to Israeli security officials.

Lazar Berman, Emanuel Fabian and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.