Gaza smuggling ring was allegedly aided from within Israeli security forces – report

Suspect operating from Ramallah accused of working with Gazan who enjoyed ties with police; contraband operation believed to have run alongside legitimate goods deliveries

A major smuggling operation that brought banned goods into the Gaza Strip during the war with Hamas was, in part, allegedly cooperating with Israeli security bodies, according to an indictment filed last month.

The details came to light from charges filed last month against a Gaza man accused of operating the smuggling ring alongside work with Israeli authorities to bring goods into Gaza, Haaretz reported Monday.

Charges were filed at the Ofer Military Court against Ramallah resident Rajab Salim, 35, who worked with a figure in Gaza dubbed “Abu Basel.” Salim, formerly from Gaza, has a permit to be in Israel and was in the West Bank on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led its invasion of southern Israel, triggering the war. He remained there ever since and allegedly established a smuggling network with Abu Basel, while working with Israeli security bodies to bring goods into Gaza, including humanitarian aid. The smuggling side of the operation was said to have netted tens of millions of shekels.

The indictment noted that Abu Basel had “many ties to the Israel Police,” which he used to obtain the release of suspects arrested on suspicion of smuggling.

A source familiar with the case confirmed the details to Haaretz.

The case was first reported last week by the Posta judicial news outlet.

According to the indictment, goods that were smuggled to Gaza were seized by Hamas.

Salim’s attorney said his client denies smuggling, that all his actions were coordinated with security bodies, and that “security entities were involved in some of the smuggling, so that there was a mix of black and white — with a large gray area,” leaving Salim to believe he was acting with approval.

The operation continued from 2024 and throughout 2025, with a total of 16 smuggling trucks entering the Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza. Among the goods smuggled in were cellphones, computers, tobacco, solar panels, batteries, generators, electric bicycles and washing machines. In addition, according to the incident, Abu Salem brought heavy construction machinery into Gaza.

On one occasion, in December 2025, Israeli authorities raided a site in Beit Haarava, where smugglers were loading goods onto trucks to be sent to Gaza. However, Salim allegedly contacted Abu Basel, who used his ties with Israeli security services to secure the release of the smugglers.

At the end of April 2026, an officer with the rank of major in the Israel Defense Forces was indicted for smuggling contraband into Gaza as well as bringing an Israeli civilian into the Strip. Haaretz did not specify if the two cases were linked, but many details appeared to overlap.

In a separate case last month, a lieutenant in the IDF was indicted for smuggling contraband into the Gaza Strip in exchange for millions of shekels.

And in February, state prosecutors filed charges against 15 suspects, among them IDF reservists, accused of taking part in a major smuggling ring that trafficked goods into the Gaza Strip.

That alleged smuggling ring is linked to Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini. Bezalel Zini is thought to have helped the network’s members smuggle cigarettes, taking advantage of his IDF reserve service in Gaza.