Is there an easy way to cut a slice from an image using Gimp?

Wondering if there is an easy way to remove a rectangular slice across the entire width of an image using Gimp, and have the resulting hole closed up automatically. I hope that makes sense. If I select a slice across an image and do "cut", it leaves a blank "hole" there. I want the new top and bottom of the image to join and fill that hole, reducing the image height by the amount sliced out.

Any easy way to do this?

Here is a method that is quick and often does what you want:

1. Cut out the middle, leaving a transparent "hole".
2. Click anywhere to remove the selection (so the hole is not selected).
3. Click Image > Zealous crop .

This is going to remove the middle part. However, if you also have transparency in other parts of the image (like around the edges) it's going to remove that transparency too.