BBC Alan Johnston freed after 4 months in captivity

Wednesday July 04, 2007 09:45 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC News

BBC reporter Alan Johnston was released by his kidnapers after nearly four months in captivity. Johnston met with the dismissed Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh shortly after being released. The same kidnappers have also released 10 Hamas affiliates, kidnapped two days ago in Gaza. The so-called Army of Islam group kidnapped Johnston on March 12 in Gaza Strip.

Freed BBC Reporter Alan Johnston (Photo: BBC Website)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the release of Johnston saying that his release ended a human tragedy that harmed the Palestinian national cause.  He affirmed that his emergency government is committed to maintaining security and imposing law and order in the Palestinian areas. 

Johnston was released after the Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and the Executive Force, which was formed by Hamas during the Hamas-led Palestinian government, surrounded the house where Johnston was held. Without resorting to violence, Johnston was released. Immediately after being freed, Johnston met with Haniyeh and several senior Hamas leaders. Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas leader, stated that there had been several attempts to negotiate his release, but the British government asked the Palestinian government not to adhere to the requests of the captors.

Hamad, who condemned the kidnapping of Johnston, told Al-Jazeera TV that his release is evidence that Hamas is movement fighting for the freedom and independence of the Palestinian people and not a terrorist organization. The captors requested money and land, in addition to the release of what they called “Islamist” prisoners in the United Kingdom. Johnston described the time in captivity as “the worst days of his life” the BBC website said, adding that he dreamt of being released several times, but he waked up to the same room again. Apparently an exchange of prisoners between Hamas and the Army of Islam, which is dominated by the Dughmush family, paved the way for his release.

gaza strip | internal unrest | news report george at imemc dot org