UK journalist accused of espionage by Hamas is freed
British journalist accused of being Israeli spy by Hamas is freed after being held captive in Gaza for 26 days
Thursday, 11, Mar 2010 12:20
By Matthew Champion.
A British journalist accused of being an Israeli spy has been freed by Hamas after the Palestinian group held him captive in the Gaza Strip for the last month.
Paul Martin was arrested in mid-February as he arrived in Gaza to testify in the defence of a Palestinian man himself accused of espionage.
Hamas did not formally charge the 55-year-old freelance journalist with any offences but today said he was guilty of espionage, banning him from returning to Gaza or travelling to the West Bank, although Hamas' influence does not stretch there.
"After concluding the investigation, it was found that Paul Martin has been found guilty of being an agent for Israel," said senior Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar.
Nevertheless he was today handed to the British consulate after being driven to the Erez crossing.
Mr Martin, who has filed pieces for the BBC and the Times, denied the charges against him.
A statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We can confirm that the British filmmaker Paul Martin, who has been held by Hamas in Gaza for the last 26 days, was released this morning to British consular officials and is now in the care of the British consulate in Jerusalem.
"Our consular staff in Gaza have been in regular contact with him throughout his detention. We have also been in regular contact with Mr Martin's family in the UK and we are sure they will be relieved to hear the news."