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BBC journalist Johnston freed

Atul Aneja

Efforts by Hamas led to release of the correspondent

DUBAI: After nearly four months of captivity in Gaza, the kidnapped BBC correspondent, Alan Johnston, has been freed. Mr. Johnston was released in the early hours on Wednesday.

Television footage showed armed gunmen escorting him out of a Gaza building. Mr. Johnston said that it was “fantastic” to be free once again. The BBC correspondent’s captors had kept him confined to a small dark cell during most of his captivity. He was able to see the sun only during the first month after his abduction.

However, a radio allowed him to follow outside events, including a strong campaign by journalists, family, friends and well-wishers to free him. Despite death threats, Mr. Johnston was not physically harmed, except for being hit “a bit” just prior to his release.

The successful end to Mr. Johnston’s captivity has boosted the credentials of Hamas as the anchor of security in Gaza. “We did this [secure Mr. Johnston’s release] because of humanitarian concern, and to achieve a Government aim to extend security to all without fear,” Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official said.

He stressed that the purpose of seeking Mr. Johnston’s release was not “to receive favours from the British Government.”

The Hamas emerged as a dominant political and military force in Gaza after ousting the rival Fatah from the territory three weeks ago.

Analysts point out that after securing Mr. Johnston’s release, Hamas has been projecting itself as a popular, credible and responsible organisation, capable of enforcing its will in Gaza.

In a telephonic interview with Reuters, Hamas leader in exile, Khaled Meshaal, said that the correspondent’s release meant that Hamas had brought order to Gaza after establishing its hold over the coastal strip.

“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.”

Contrasting his organisation with Fatah, he said Mr. Johnston’s release “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 stabilise security.”

Hamas had mounted a complex operation to free Mr. Johnston, who had been seized by members of the powerful Dugmush clan.

On Monday, Hamas seized the spokesman of the Army of Islam, who became a useful bargaining chip for securing Mr. Johnston’s freedom.

A day later, Hamas managed to secure the release of nine students that the Dugmush clan had seized.

In return, Hamas released four members of the Army of Islam, the armed group loyal to the clan.

Just ahead of Mr. Johnston’s release, Hamas fighters surrounded the neighbourhood of the Dugmush clan, while gunmen positioned themselves on the rooftops of nearby buildings.

After he was freed, Mr. Johnston appeared in a brief press conference with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. He was later driven across from Gaza into Israel.

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