Alan Johnston 'well and healthy'
Sunday, 27 May 2007 12:58
Mr Johnston was captured in Gaza City on March 12th.
Israel/Palestine In Focus
The Saudi-led Arab peace initiative is back on the agenda as the quickest route to peace in the Middle East. Full Story
Missing BBC journalist Alan Johnston is alive and well, according to a Palestinian government official and member of Hamas.
Mr Johnston, the only foreign correspondent based in Gaza full-time, was captured in Gaza City on March 12th.
However since he disappeared very little official news has been reported by Palestinian officials.
Yet Ghazi Hamad, a friend of the journalist and a government official, revealed that Mr Johnston was safe and well and had not been harmed.
"I know that he is well and healthy, and in a good situation. No one has tried to harm him or hurt him," said Dr Hamad, speaking at the Hay literary festival in Wales.
He also added that he is personally involved in the attempt to release him.
"I think there are continuous efforts to release him. We hope we can do it very, very soon."
The kidnapping of Mr Johnston, who has become the longest held reporter in the Gaza Strip, has received attention worldwide. An online petition by the BBC calling for his release now has more than 100,000 names.
Dr Hamad also condemned the kidnapping of his friend and praised Mr Johnston's reporting of the bleak situation facing many civilians in the troubled region.
"It is my job to do everything to release him, and also to help my people, because I think it is shameful for our people," he added.
"We thank them for supporting our cause and our issues. We have never hurt any journalists."