(JTA) — The commander of the Islamic State in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula is reportedly on a secret trip to Gaza to coordinate with Hamas.

Shadi al-Menei, one of the founders of the militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which later joined the Islamic State, is currently in the coastal trip, Israel’s Channel 2 reported.

The trip is intended to enhance coordination between the groups and discuss the ongoing supply of weapons sought by Hamas, the channel reported.

Egyptian security officials reported last year that al-Menei had been killed, but the claim turned out to be false.

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