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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli police on Tuesday night detained a Palestinian in occupied East Jerusalem for alleged incitement on social media and being "involved in supporting" the Islamic State group (IS), an Israeli police spokesman said.

"Police arrest Arab east jerusalem suspect in 40's involved in supporting & connected to IS. Used social network as a platform for incitement," Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said on Twitter Wednesday.

The Palestinian was detained after an investigation reportedly showed that he had posted pictures on the social media website Facebook supporting IS, according to Israeli media that added the police had extended the man's remand until Sunday.

Rosenfeld did not immediately respond for comment, but stated earlier on Wednesday that "police cyber unit operations" had detained three suspects involved in "international criminal underworld corporation sharing info."

The detention comes after growing attention has shifted towards purported growth of the IS movement in Israel and the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip

While Israeli leadership has championed alarm over an alleged spread of IS into the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, as of June 84 percent of Palestinians viewed IS as a radical group that does not represent true Islam, according to results of a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

In June, video footage alleged to be from an IS stronghold in Syria showcased a public challenge by the group against Hamas' power in Gaza, accusing the Gazan leadership of failing to enforce stringent religious law in the strip.

Prior to the threat, Hamas had reportedly been increasingly challenged by Salafist militant groups in Gaza, some claiming links to IS and who have taken credit for recent sporadic rocket fire into Israel.

The splinter groups are believed to be challenging Hamas over its ceasefire with Israel and what they see as its lack of zeal in enforcing Islamic law.

In recent months Hamas has cracked down on the groups which it says it views as a threat to its power in the same vein as extremist groups such as IS.