|
Written by Emuel
|
|
Thursday, 05 July 2007 |
Alan Graham Johnston the only Western journalist permanently based in Gaza, was kidnapped by a group of Palestinian millitants calling themselves the "Army of Islam" on March 12, 2007, and released nearly four months later on July 4.
 His captivity led to many protests in the Palestinian territories, as well as the British government meeting a Hamas member for the first time. On April 15 unconfirmed reports claiming that he had been murdered surfaced, later declared by Palestinian intelligence sources to be false. A tape claiming to be from Johnston's kidnappers surfaced on May 8, leading to renewed hope that he would soon be released, and three weeks later a Hamas spokesperson spoke of his hope that Johnston would be freed quickly. Johnston then appeared in a video released online by his alleged kidnappers on June 1. Hopes were raised for his release in mid-June after Hamas took full control of Gaza and set a deadline for his release, but on June 24 a video of him wearing what he said was an explosive belt was released along with a warning that if attempts were made to rescue him by force it would be detonated. However, on July 4, Johnston was freed without any ransom being paid, and was taken to meet Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh before leaving with an entourage of British diplomats to Jerusalem. |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 July 2007 )
|
