Jerusalem, 4 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police and the Shin Bet (Israel’s anti-terror General Security Service) arrested several Israeli citizens and residents of Gaza after they smuggled prohibited goods into the Gaza Strip, while exploiting the ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid. The State Prosecution filed indictments , Wednesday, against 12 of those involved, as well as against a company owned in part by some of them.
In addition, in the framework of a closed hearing held yesterday at the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court, it was permitted to publish that three additional suspects were investigated for security offenses related to the smuggling of cigarettes into the Gaza Strip, and their remand was extended until March 5, after a statement of intent to prosecute was filed in their cases by the Prosecution.
The police emphasized that during the fighting, and even more so since the beginning of the ceasefire, Hamas and other terrorist organizations have been working to rehabilitate and strengthen their military and civilian systems and to reinforce Hamas governance in the territory of the Strip. This includes renewal of damaged military infrastructure, recruitment and training of operatives, as well as renewal of logistical activity and rehabilitation of command-and-control systems in the area of Gaza.