July 03, 2007

Kidnapped BBC Reporter Freed

Great news from Gaza, via Fox News:

Kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston was released after nearly four months in captivity in Gaza, FOX News confirmed with a Hamas spokesman Tuesday.

Johnston, a correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corp., was not seen after the announcement, but the Islamic militant group said he was in the custody of its military wing and meeting with deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

The release was announced by the Islamic militant group's TV and also confirmed in a text message from Hamas to The Associated Press.

There were no further immediate details.

Johnston was videotaped last month wearing an explosive belt, warning that his captors would detonate him if a rescue was attempted. Thankfully that did not happen. It will be interesting to hear the behind-the-scene details as they emerge. Johnston's release comes nearly one year after Fox News journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig were kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam as the price of their freedom, along with an alleged ransom payment of $2 million.

Another interesting point is that the Army of Islam is also believed to be responsible for the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped in June 2006 in Gaza. As Hamas continues their publicity campaign to be seen as the force of stability and law-and-order in the Palestinian territories, maybe they will put the pressure on for Shalit's freedom.