A Gaza-born Canadian citizen who has been held in Israel since early November has been formally charged in connection with an alleged plot to carry out attacks against Israelis and Jews in North America.

In early December, Israeli authorities in Ottawa said Jamal Akkal, 23, had confessed to being a trained assassin for the extremist group Hamas.

Hamas is an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement. The group is outlawed under Canada's anti-terror laws and operates mainly in the Middle East. Although Hamas has done fundraising in other countries, it has never been known to carry out attacks abroad.

The charges Akkal faces are conspiracy to commit murder and illegal military training. He is scheduled to be brought before a military court Monday for a preliminary hearing, the Israeli military said Sunday.

Akkal was detained by Israeli forces near the Palestinian refugee camp at Rafah in the Gaza Strip on Nov. 1 on suspicion of terrorist links. Akkal had returned to the region on a Canadian passport after immigrating four years ago and obtaining citizenship.

Akkal, a former student of the University of Windsor, had reportedly travelled to the Gaza strip for his wedding and was on his way back to Canada when he was detained.

Canadian Foreign Affairs officials said earlier this month that Akkal had complained of being subjected to lengthy interrogations without sleep. Israel has denied reports it has mistreated Akkal.

Details from the indictment against Akkal:

• A Hamas militant, Ahmed Wahabe, recruited Akkal after one of his relatives was killed in an Israeli military operation.
• Wahabe told Akkal to await approval before carrying out the attacks (it doesn't say if the approval was ever given).
• Akkal was told to buy an M-16 gun in Detroit and bomb materials to carry out the attacks in cities where many Jews live.
• Wahabe also allegedly told Akkal to raise money in mosques in North America. Donors would be told the money would go to families of Palestinian suicide bombers but would actually fund Akkal's militant activity, the army charges.