Global Jihadist killed in Israeli strike

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GAZA, April 30 (UPI) -- A Salafist militant was killed in an Israeli airstrike as he rode his motorcycle in northern Gaza, the Israeli army said.

The army said Hitham Ziad Ibrahim Masshal, 24, a resident of the al-Shati camp in Gaza and a member of the Global Jihad, was killed in the strike Tuesday morning in a joint operation conducted by the air force and Shin Bet.

The army said Masshal operated in a number of terror organizations in recent years and specialized in weapons and manufactured rockets and explosive devices.

He is said to have assisted the Shura Council of the Mujahedin in Jerusalem, a Salafist organization branch of the Global Jihad, the army said. He was suspected to have been involved in the recent rocket attacks on the western Negev and in Eilat and attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, the army said.

Jerusalem requested that Egypt demand that Hamas halt rocket attacks on southern Israel, Israel Radio said. In recent days Hamas military wing members have deployed near the border fence with Israel and set up checkpoints to inspect vehicles, the radio report said.