TEL AVIV: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the Israeli Military Prosecution has filed an indictment against an influential senior official in the Islamic Jihad, whose arrest at the beginning of the month sparked a round of fighting between Israel and the terror group in the Gaza Strip. 

According to the DPA report, Bassam al-Saadi is charged with offences related to his participation in and membership with the Islamic Jihad, an outlawed organisation.

He is also accused with impersonating someone else, inciting violence, and facilitating contact with "enemy members." Al-Saadi allegedly collaborated with other operatives on fundamental terrorist actions and received funding from an Islamic Jihad member operating in the Gaza Strip, according to the indictment.

Al-Saadi is also alleged to have encouraged the continuance of violent Palestinian assaults.  Al-Saadi also tried to avoid capture by posing as someone else when Israeli security forces arrived to arrest him. Al-Saadi was to be detained until the conclusion of the legal proceedings in his case, at the request of the Military Prosecution.

At the request of the defence attorney to study the evidence, at this stage al-Saadi's detention has been extended until Sunday.

Since August 1, Al-Saadi has been held in custody. After receiving information that he was continuing his involvement in Islamic jihad, the investigation was launched.

After his incarceration, Islamic Jihad vowed to strike Israel. As a result, three weeks ago, the Israeli military began a significant military offensive against Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

Dozens of people died. The militant Palestinians fired rockets at Israeli towns. With assistance from Egypt, a ceasefire was reached after three days of combat.

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