Israeli officer indicted over alleged Gaza smuggling scheme

The shipment reportedly included mobile phones, cigarettes, tobacco, silicone, solar panels, and electric bicycles in large quantities.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

An Israeli military officer has been indicted on multiple charges related to a scheme to smuggle prohibited items into the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday.

According to the IDF Spokesperson, the Military Prosecution filed charges against a career officer holding the rank of lieutenant who served as a deputy company commander.

Prosecutors allege that in September 2025, the officer conspired with others to transport a truck of banned goods into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

“The defendant… exploited his military position, his familiarity with the procedures and his operational powers to allow the truck to enter the Strip,” the IDF said, adding that the arrangement involved “a payment of millions of shekels… and a division of the profits between them.”

On September 19, the officer allegedly arrived at the crossing in a military jeep, ordered the truck opened under false pretenses, and escorted it into Gaza.

The shipment reportedly included mobile phones, cigarettes, tobacco, silicone, solar panels, and electric bicycles in large quantities.

Shortly afterward, those involved received substantial payments, with the officer allegedly taking about NIS 5 million ($1.6 million).

Israeli authorities have banned cigarettes and other tobacco products from entering Gaza during the war, citing high black-market prices and heavy taxation by Hamas. Prosecutors said tobacco smuggling has generated enormous revenue for the terror group.

In January, several Israelis, including army reservists, an Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) officer, and Betzalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet director David Zini, were indicted for smuggling large quantities of cigarettes and tobacco, as well as iPhones, batteries, telecommunications cables, vehicle parts, medical equipment, and solar system components.

Some of the goods are classified by Israel as “dual-use,” meaning they could be repurposed for military or terror activities.

As The Press Service of Israel has previously reported, Hamas has managed to maintain its grip on Gaza by stealing and taxing humanitarian aid.

Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.