What's happened
Israeli authorities have charged over a dozen individuals, including reservists, with smuggling goods such as cigarettes, iPhones, and car parts into Gaza since summer 2025. The operation, linked to Hamas funding, involved misleading border crossings and has been described as systematic and sophisticated. The case highlights ongoing illicit activities amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
What's behind the headline?
The smuggling operations reveal a complex nexus between military personnel and organized crime, exploiting wartime vulnerabilities for profit. The involvement of reservists like Bezalel Zini, who used military permits to smuggle cigarettes and electronics, indicates systemic corruption within the security apparatus. This illicit trade directly supports Hamas, enabling it to fund its activities despite Israel's blockade. The case also exposes the limitations of Israel's border security, which is being exploited by well-organized networks. The timing—during a ceasefire—suggests that smuggling is not merely economic but strategic, aimed at strengthening Hamas's resilience and governance. Moving forward, Israel's efforts to crack down on these networks will likely intensify, but the embedded nature of these activities suggests that a long-term solution will require addressing broader political and economic issues in Gaza.
What the papers say
France 24 reports that Israel has filed indictments against 12 suspects, including reservists, for systematic smuggling of goods worth millions of shekels into Gaza, highlighting the organized and sophisticated nature of the operation. AP News emphasizes the involvement of active-duty and reserve soldiers, with some accused of knowingly aiding Hamas by smuggling items like cigarettes, iPhones, and batteries, often disguised as military supplies. The Times of Israel details the legal proceedings against Zini and others, noting the strategic use of permits and military access to facilitate the smuggling, which is seen as a threat to Israeli security and Hamas's governance. All sources agree that the smuggling began in summer 2025, during ongoing conflict, and that it significantly bolsters Hamas's capabilities. While France 24 and AP focus on the broader security implications, The Times of Israel provides insight into the legal and military aspects, illustrating a coordinated effort to undermine Israeli efforts and sustain Hamas.
How we got here
Since the outbreak of war in Gaza in summer 2025, Israel has tightly controlled aid and goods entering the territory. Despite a ceasefire in October 2025, smuggling persists, driven by profit motives and Hamas's efforts to rebuild its governance. The smuggling network involves military reservists and civilians exploiting border vulnerabilities, with goods often disguised as legitimate security items. The case underscores the ongoing challenge of illicit trade fueling conflict and terrorism in the region.
Go deeper
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David Zini is an Israel Defense Forces major general, currently serving as head of Training Command and the commander of the General Staff Corps.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.