Gaza militants killed in Israeli airstrike

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GAZA CITY -- An Israeli airstrike Saturday killed two Palestinian militants and wounded two civilians, medical officials in the Gaza Strip said.

One of the militants, Hisham Sueidani, 43, was believed to be the highest-ranking member and co-founder of an extremist Islamist group called Tawhid and Jihad, which professes to draw its inspiration from Al Qaeda, officials said. Sueidani’s assistant was also killed in the strike, officials said. The pair were targeted as they rode a motorcycle in northern Gaza.

Medical officials said two bystanders were injured, one a 10-year-old boy.

Israeli officials said the group has been responsible for several attacks against Israel.

In addition to firing rockets into southern Israel, Tawhid and Jihad was blamed for the 2011 kidnapping and slaying of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni.

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--Rushdi Abu Alouf