Brother of Israel’s security chief linked to Gaza smuggling ring arrest
Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, was arrested with 14 others in a police bust accusing a smuggling network of moving illegal goods—primarily cigarettes—into Gaza for profit. The indictment alleges 14 crates of cigarettes worth about 365,000 shekels (~$117,000), along with mobile phones and car parts, trafficked via West Bank and Gaza routes sometimes under humanitarian pretexts. Prosecutors say the ring aided Hamas and threatened Israeli security; Zini’s attorney denies the charges and notes no evidence links him to his brother. The investigation was led by police and Shin Bet, separately from the brother’s agency.