TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Israeli authorities have charged a Palestinian businessman with funneling thousands of dollars to a Hamas commander in the Gaza Strip.
Osama Zaki Muhammad Bashiti of Khan Younis in Gaza was arrested as he returned from the United Arab Emirates in mid-July, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The Israeli prime minister's office announced the arrest Tuesday and said Bashiti had admitted that Muhammad Sanouar, the Hamas commander in Khan Younis, asked him five months ago to serve as a conduit. Bashiti allegedly said he arranged for money to be transferred from his office in the UAE to Sanouar, with the largest transaction being $200,000.
Sanouar is believed to have supervised suicide bombings and attacks on Israeli settlements, including a mortar attack on Gush Katif that killed five students.
