Israeli authorities about a month ago arrested three citizens they accuse of smuggling illegal goods into Gaza, Haaretz reported. The Tel Aviv-based newspaper seemed to indicate, until Monday, a gag order had prevented it from publishing details about the captures.

The men have since been charged in the Beersheba District Court, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency detailed. The list of accusations against them includes contacting a foreign agent, aiding a terror group in its war against Israel, facilitating the transfer of illegal goods to terror groups, money laundering and tax fraud.

Under questioning, the suspects admitted smuggling goods including concrete, pipes and electronics into Gaza. Israel's internal security service, known as the Shin Bet, said the materials entered the Palestine exclave through a regular border crossing. To facilitate their efforts, the three accused -- who said they were "trying to make a living" -- used a front company.

The metal and pipes the suspects allegedly sold in Gaza could be used to rebuild underground tunnels, which the Israeli military destroyed during an operation last summer. The tunnels, along with sophisticated elevators, had apparently been constructed to transport kidnapping victims.

Police identified two of the suspects as Michael Peretz and Yoram Alon but withheld the name of the third under a gag order, Ynetnews noted. Israel's defense ministry originally warned Alon and the unnamed third man that they were in contact with a man known to be associated with a terrorist group; nevertheless, they entered into a business relationship with the foreigner, authorities claimed.

The goods sent into Gaza was interspersed with other items, which are allowed to enter the territory without restrictions, police said. Peretz, the supposed conduit into Gaza, helped hide banned shipments in warehouses and was paid at least $375,000 for his efforts.

The Shin Bet has called the alleged conspiracy a "smuggling lane from Israel to Hamas" and underlined the severe charges leveled against the suspects. Also involved in the investigation were the local tax authority, the Israel Defense Forces and a special unit of the ministry of defense.