Joint Statement from the IDF Spokesperson and the Shin Bet Spokesperson: The IDF and Shin Bet have arrested a Major for offenses related to smuggling goods from Israel into the Gaza Strip and bringing an Israeli citizen into the Strip.
IDF Major arrested for smuggling millions in goods to Gaza and aiding an Israeli citizen's entry into the Strip. Indictment filed for aiding the enemy and.
Yesterday (Wednesday), April 29, 2026, the military prosecution filed an indictment against him. The officer was accused of a series of serious offenses, including: aiding the enemy, taking bribes, smuggling goods under aggravated circumstances, and additional offenses. The indictment was filed following a joint investigation by the General Security Service, the Southern District of the Israel Police, the Special Investigations Unit of the Military Police Investigator, and the Customs Investigations Unit, Southern District Patrol. According to the indictment, based on a prior agreement with several Israeli civilians, against whom indictments were filed in the Haifa District Court, on January 10, 2026, the defendant led a truck to the Gaza Strip containing smuggled goods, including, among other things, mobile phones, cigarettes, car batteries, electric bicycles, laptops, network routers, and more, with a total value of millions of shekels. An Israeli civilian drove the truck, with the defendant traveling ahead of him in a military vehicle. The defendant bypassed inspection and control mechanisms, and exploited his authority and military position, by presenting a false representation to soldiers and officers that this was a legitimate operational activity. After crossing the border, the driver left the truck in the Gaza Strip and returned to Israel with the defendant. Subsequently, the defendant brought the Israeli civilian into the Gaza Strip once more through the crossing, to complete the transfer of goods. The civilian drove the truck into the Gaza Strip and remained there for several days, until he was extracted with the help of those involved in the smuggling. According to the indictment, the defendant committed the acts knowing that the goods were being brought into the Gaza Strip unauthorized and without supervision, and that they could reach terrorist organizations, including Hamas, and assist their activities. The indictment also details that the defendant knew or willfully ignored the possibility that bringing an Israeli civilian into the Gaza Strip could also aid the enemy. The IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police view the phenomenon of smuggling into the Gaza Strip with great severity, as it poses a risk to the security of the state in general, and even more so in cases involving IDF service members in regular or reserve duty. All law enforcement agencies will continue to act to investigate such incidents and to prosecute those involved in such acts.
