Aug. 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Israeli Army announced this Sunday its decision to formally charge the leader of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank, Baseem Saadi, whose arrest at the beginning of last month became the trigger for a campaign of clashes between the terrorist organization and the Israeli forces.
The indictment against Saadi will include charges of belonging to a terrorist group, conducting operations for said terrorist group, inciting and supporting terrorism.
This Sunday, an Israeli court extended Saadi’s pre-trial detention until August 25, the Times of Israel newspaper confirmed.
Following Saadi’s arrest on July 1, Islamic Jihad threatened retaliation, prompting the Israeli authorities to impose restrictions on traffic at the border crossings with the Gaza Strip.
Subsequently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombed the area as part of an operation against senior militia officials that killed a commander of the Islamic Jihad military forces in northern Gaza, Taisir al Jabari. .
The war escalation lasted three days and left more than 40 Palestinians dead and 300 wounded, according to the Palestinian authorities. The ceasefire agreement reached shortly thereafter includes Egypt’s commitment to work towards the release of the detainees.
Saadi, 61, has been jailed and released a total of seven times by Israeli security forces. The Shin Bet had noted in recent months that the man “is working hard to restore Islamic Jihad activities” and that he “is behind the creation of a significant military force” by the group in the West Bank, especially in Jenin.
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