Tweet
Jerusalem, July. 4 (PTI): Kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who was released today in Gaza City after 114 days of captivity, described his ordeal as similar to "being buried alive," and said he felt "unimaginable relief" after being freed.
Johnston, 45, the only foreign correspondent based permanently in the Gaza Strip, was handed over to Hamas officials following an agreement with his captors, who call themselves the 'Army of Islam'.
"He was freed following an agreement with his kidnappers and he is in good health," said a statement from Hamas, which took control over the Strip following a violent struggle with rival Fatah.
Talking to reporters alongside former Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas after his release, Alan said it was an "appalling" and "occasionally quite terrifying" experience.
"It became quite hard to imagine normal life again," he said.
"I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room," a tired looking Johnston reminisced.
"The last 16 weeks have been the very worst of my life," the BBC correspondent said adding, "I was in the hands of people who were dangerous and unpredictable."
Johnston also revealed he was kept in chains briefly for around 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity when his captors hit him "a bit".
The award winning journalist said he had been kept in four different locations, two of them only briefly.
"I was able to see the sun in the first month but was then kept in a shuttered room until a week before," said the correspondent, who has been brought to the British consulate in Jerusalem.
Johnston, 45, the only foreign correspondent based permanently in the Gaza Strip, was handed over to Hamas officials following an agreement with his captors, who call themselves the 'Army of Islam'.
"He was freed following an agreement with his kidnappers and he is in good health," said a statement from Hamas, which took control over the Strip following a violent struggle with rival Fatah.
Talking to reporters alongside former Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas after his release, Alan said it was an "appalling" and "occasionally quite terrifying" experience.
"It became quite hard to imagine normal life again," he said.
"I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room," a tired looking Johnston reminisced.
"The last 16 weeks have been the very worst of my life," the BBC correspondent said adding, "I was in the hands of people who were dangerous and unpredictable."
Johnston also revealed he was kept in chains briefly for around 24 hours but was not harmed physically until the last half hour of his captivity when his captors hit him "a bit".
The award winning journalist said he had been kept in four different locations, two of them only briefly.
"I was able to see the sun in the first month but was then kept in a shuttered room until a week before," said the correspondent, who has been brought to the British consulate in Jerusalem.
What the Broons had to say:
Gordon Brown, in his first prime minister's questions session in the UK parliament, said: "The whole country will welcome the news that Alan Johnston, a fearless journalist whose voice was silenced for too long, is now free."
Mr Brown acknowledged the "crucial" role played by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in securing Mr Johnston's release.
But a spokesman for Mr Brown said Britain's policy towards Hamas had not changed, and the movement was still expected to recognise Israel and show a commitment to non-violence.
Mr Brown acknowledged the "crucial" role played by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in securing Mr Johnston's release.
But a spokesman for Mr Brown said Britain's policy towards Hamas had not changed, and the movement was still expected to recognise Israel and show a commitment to non-violence.
All's well that ends well...
Attached Files
Comment