The cost of a pack of cigarettes in the Gaza Strip has risen above NIS 100 in recent months, sources familiar with the matter told Walla on Tuesday.
"Sometimes the cost reaches thousands of shekels," the source added, explaining that the skyrocketing cost is due to decreased supply and high demand.
This information came to light shortly before the State Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday that two indictments were issued against suspects accused of being part of a smuggling operation transporting goods into the Gaza Strip.
The accused are believed to have been responsible for smuggling millions of shekels' worth of goods into Gaza for Hamas, both while the Gaza war was still ongoing and after the ceasefire began.
The main items smuggled into Gaza were cigarettes and tobacco. Other items included cellphones, vehicle parts, batteries, and communication cables.
Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief David Zini, has been named as the suspect in a security case involving the smuggling of goods into Gaza.
Police conclude main investigation against Zini, other suspects
The decision came after Israel Police said earlier that it had concluded its investigation against Zini and two other suspects and was preparing to issue a prosecutor’s statement, the step before an official indictment. Zini specifically is suspected of smuggling cigarettes into the enclave.
Judge Yaniv Ben Harush noted in his decision that the argument that revealing Zini’s identity would obstruct the investigation no longer stands, as it is nearing its conclusion, and that “the scale tips in favor of the principle of open justice.”
Following the announcement, Zini’s father, Rabbi Yosef Zini, said that the authorities’ true target was not Bezalel but rather the Shin Bet head himself.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.