Hamas pledges to help free kidnapped journalist
Intensive negotiations are under way toward freeing British journalist Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped three months ago in Gaza, a senior Hamas official said today.
Ahmed Youssef, an aide to deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, said the talks are with the Doghmush family, a violent clan with its own militia, and he hoped "in the next 24 hours, either this man will be released or something will be done to solve this problem."
He did not elaborate.
It has been widely assumed that the Doghmush clan was behind the March 12 abduction of BBC correspondent Johnston from a Gaza City street, but this was the first time a senior Hamas official named them in public.
"The government pledges it will do its best to make sure his release will be safe and soon," Youssef said.
Johnston, the last Western correspondent based in Gaza, is by far the longest-held foreign hostage in Gaza. Tomorrow will be his 100th day in captivity.
His plight has raised protests from Gaza journalists, international reporters' associations and human rights groups.
