During a closed-door hearing held on Tuesday at the Ashkelon Magistrates Court, a gag order was partially lifted, allowing authorities to disclose that police are investigating what was described as a large-scale, multi-suspect operation involving the smuggling of goods from Israel into the Gaza Strip.
Over the past year, indictments have been filed against three Israeli citizens on charges of smuggling drugs and cigarettes into Gaza using drones.
The suspects, Mohammad Sarahin, Sharif Abu Gradud and Younis Abu Gradud, residents of Mas'udine al-Azazmeh, were arrested in April 2025. Police said that during questioning, investigators learned that in the weeks leading up to their arrest the three were involved in several smuggling operations from Israel into Gaza, using drones capable of carrying loads weighing up to several dozen kilograms.
According to the investigation, the drones were left inside the Gaza Strip after the smuggling was completed.
