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Alan Johnston speaks to the media shortly after his arrival in Israel at Erez crossing after almost four months in captivity in Gaza, July 4, 2007. (Photo: Edi Israel/Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff July 4, 2007 |
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| Palestinian journalists holding pictures of Alan Johnston in Gaza in front of the Legislative Council during a parliament session in Gaza City, March 17, 2007. (Photo: Ahmad Khateib/ Flash90) |
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"The last 16 weeks, of course, were just the very worst you can imagine of my life, like being buried alive, really, removed from the world."
These are the words of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who was finally freed Wednesday morning after almost four months of captivity in the Gaza Strip. Johnston was kidnapped on March 12 in Gaza City by the Army of Islam, a group formerly allied with Hamas.
During a press conference after his release, Johnston told of his ordeal, saying that on one point during his captivity he was chained up for 24 hours. He also recounted that he was only able to see the sun through a window during the first month.
"It's been basically three months since I saw the sun," he said in an interview with BBC TV at Erez crossing on the Gaza-Israel border.
"I dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room ... It's an amazing thing to be free," he said in a collected, yet tired way.
"If it hadn't been for that real serious Hamas pressure, that commitment to tidying up Gaza's many, many security problems, then I might have been in that room for a lot longer," said Johnston.
The Army of Islam had threatened to kill Johnston if Hamas stormed their hideout. In an apparent attempt to gain Western support, Hamas has been demanding that Johnston be released since its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip last month. On Tuesday, Hamas upped the pressure on the group as Hamas gunmen surrounded the Army of Islam's stronghold.
On Tuesday, the Army of Islam offered a compromise with Hamas in the form of a posting on their website, and an eventual shadowy deal between the two groups led to Johnston's release.
During the press conference following Johnston's release, "[Haniyeh draped] a Palestinian flag around Johnston's shoulders, which he quickly removed, and pinned a Palestinian flag pin on his blue blazer," reported the Jerusalem Post.
Haniyeh also addressed the press, expressing his hopes that an "honorable" prisoner swap would secure the release of captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit as well as Palestinian prisoners.
"If the Israelis think logically and seriously, and take into account the humanitarian matter and the suffering of Palestinian prisoners, then it is possible to make a deal," Haniyeh stated.
The Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's media advisor issued a statement congratulating Johnston on his safe release, and continued, demanding the same for Shalit.
"Israel demands that soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted to the Gaza Strip over one year ago, also be released by his kidnappers, who belong to Hamas. As is known, the Hamas members holding him are -- in effect -- preventing the release of Palestinian prisoners as has been agreed upon," said the statement.
Abbas aide slams release as publicity stunt
A top aide to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas charged Wednesday that the release of Alan Johnston was staged, referring to it as 'a movie."
According to Yasser Abd Rabbo, Hamas and the Army of Islam were actually working together, and Hamas staged the rescue of Johnston so that it would "appear as if [Hamas] respects international law."
"We're watching a movie, where the thieves in Gaza fall out and one of them claims to be honest and brave, and the other is the bad guy. This Hamas game fools no one," Rabbo stated.
Abbas, however, lauded the release and called Johnston a friend to the Palestinian people. He slammed the Army of Islam, saying that groups like it must be dismantled because they cause chaos and are a threat to authority.
An aide to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated that the release was evidence that Hamas can maintain order in Gaza.
"Gaza is safe, Gaza is clean, Gaza is green," stated Ahmed Yousef, referencing the green Hamas flag.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, based in Damascus, also praised the release as proof that Hamas can create order in Gaza.
"We have been able to close this chapter which has harmed the image of our people greatly. The efforts by Hamas have produced the freedom of Alan Johnston," Meshal told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"It showed the difference between the era in which a group used to encourage and commit security anarchy and chaos and the current situation in which Hamas is seeking to stabilize security," stated Mashaal, referring to the rival Fatah group. |
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