BBC's Gaza correspondent released

[jose]

BBC NEWS | Middle East | BBC's Gaza correspondent released

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in the Gaza Strip after 114 days in captivity. Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to armed men in Gaza City. He said his ordeal was like "being buried alive" but it was "fantastic" to be free. And he described how he had been unable to see the sun for three months, and had once been chained for 24 hours. Rallies worldwide had called for Mr Johnston's release. An online petition was signed by some 200,000 people. Mr Johnston's father Graham said he and his wife were "overjoyed" at their son's release. "It's been 114 days of a living nightmare," he said. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also expressed his joy at Mr Johnston's release. The BBC reporter was handed over to officials of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He later appeared beside Hamas leader Ismail Haniya and thanked everyone who had worked for his release. He is now at the British Consulate in Jerusalem. Hamas gunmen overran Gaza last month, expelling their rivals from the Fatah faction and prompting its leader, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, to sack Mr Haniya as prime minister. Mr Haniya said the result "confirms [Hamas] is serious in imposing security and stability and maintaining law and order in this very dear part of our homeland".

If Hamas can control the violence will they get support?

[shrike]

Its a PR stunt they kidnapped him and now they freed him in "military" operation

[the last man]

it was not a chance that he is released with the coming of Gorden Brown.

[Matt W]

Quote by: shrike Its a PR stunt they kidnapped him and now they freed him in "military" operation

Rubbish. Have you examined anything about the 'Army of Islam' that actually had Johnston in captivity? Or are all Palestinians the same to you? :rolleyes:

[shrike]

Rubbish. Have you examined anything about the 'Army of Islam' that actually had Johnston in captivity? Or are all Palestinians the same to you?

Are you claiming that all Palestinians is terrorists? I don’t agree with you. I think there is a Palestinians that don't support terrorists groups.
I think all terrorist groups are the same they use different excuse for their heinous actions but there is no big difference between Hamass and Army of Islam

[GHook93]

Quote by: Matt W Rubbish. Have you examined anything about the 'Army of Islam' that actually had Johnston in captivity? Or are all Palestinians the same to you? :rolleyes:

Army of Islam were always in good standing with Hamas. This was a PR. And it worked! You proved it.

[jose]

The Army of Islam (Arabic: جَيش الإسلام Jaīsh al-'Islām) is a Palestinian militant group specializing in kidnappings. The group has been shunned by both Hamas and Fatah.
Army of Islam (Gaza Strip) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[GHook93]

Quote by: jose BBC NEWS | Middle East | BBC's Gaza correspondent released If Hamas can control the violence will they get support?

Hopeful support to go 6 feet under!

[GHook93]

Quote by: jose The Army of Islam (Arabic: جَيش الإسلام Jaīsh al-'Islām) is a Palestinian militant group specializing in kidnappings. The group has been shunned by both Hamas and Fatah. Army of Islam (Gaza Strip) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Only recently by Hamas as a PR stunt for the sheep in Europe to praise Hamas.

[jose]

?

Quote by: GHook93 Hopeful support to go 6 feet under!

perhaps you would like to see the violence continue? and hate the thought that the democratically elected Hamas can unite the Palestinians for peace in Gaza

[jose]

Quote by: shrike I think all terrorist groups are the same they use different excuse for their heinous actions

[1946] King David Hotel bombing (July 22): Irgun Zvai Leumi terrorists, commanded by Menachem Begin, bombed the British office wing of Jerusalem's King David Hotel, killing 91 people
Britain Palestine Irgun Terrorism 1931-1948

IRONICALLY, the shocking truth is that it has been proven that the Jewish Stern gang received funding and arms from the Italian Fascists to resist the British Mandate in Palestine. In fact, the Stern gang's collaboration with the Fascists and Nazis was going on while their Jewish brothers were being persecuted in Nazi concentration camps. It should also be noted that when the Americans, British, and their Arab allies were busy blocking the Desert Fox's (Erwin Rommel) advances in north Africa, the Stern gang's leader Yitzhak Shamir and the Irgun gang's leader Menachem Begin were busy ambushing British soldiers, blowing up the vital Haifa-Cairo railroad supply line, and terrorizing British and Palestinian civilians (Righteous Victims, p. 174). And when Yitzhak Shamir, Israel's future Prime Minister in the 1980s, was asked to explain their collaboration with the Fascists, he replied:

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Aren't Palestinians as responsible as their leader al-Hajj Amin Hussieni who collaborated with the Nazis during WW II?
yea terrorists

The Lavon affair ("Esek Habish" - the shameful affair) was one of the most bizarre chapters in Israeli history. In 1954, the Israeli secret service set up a spy ring in Egypt, with the purpose of blowing up US and British targets. The operation was code-named "Susanah." The terrorist hits were to be blamed on the regime of Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser, with the purpose of alienating the US and Britain from Egypt and Nasser and somehow preventing Egyptian nationalization of the Suez canal. The ring was discovered. Strict censorship ensured that that the Israeli public officially knew little or nothing of the affair for many years. Names were not mentioned, the affair was called "Esek Bish" - the affair of shame, and key protagonists were referred to as "X" and "the third man." Unofficially and through leaks, most people knew at least the outlines of the affair.
The Lavon Affair

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Whoever and why, I'm sure we are pleased Alan Johnston is free

[GHook93]

Quote by: jose ? perhaps you would like to see the violence continue? and hate the thought that the democratically elected Hamas can unite the Palestinians for peace in Gaza

Hamas is only interested in seeing the violence continue; therefore, I am effectly against them,

[shrike]

Palestinians think it was a PR stunt too

Yasser Abed Rabbo said that Hamas' release of the Briton, held in Gaza for nearly four months in the custody of militant group Army of Islam, had been staged, as the two groups were in league with each other. He said Hamas staged the rescue in order to "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 said

Meshal: Johnston's release shows Hamas brought order to Gaza - Haaretz - Israel News

[GHook93]

Quote by: shrike Palestinians think it was a PR stunt too Meshal: Johnston's release shows Hamas brought order to Gaza - Haaretz - Israel News

Notice how Jose is quiet on this!

[jose]

Quote by: GHook93 Notice how Jose is quiet on this!

I have been out the country:)