People
JOHNSTON, Alan -- Journalist
On 12 March 2007, BBC correspondent Alan Johnston was kidnapped and held hostage in the Gaza Strip for 114 days. Johnston has been the BBC's correspondent in Gaza for more than three years and is the second foreign reporter to be kidnapped in Gaza this year, and the fourteenth since the start of 2005. According to Reporters Without Borders, "The grim series of abductions of foreign journalists continues in the Gaza Strip without the authorities so far finding a way to bring it to an end. None of the people responsible for kidnapping journalists since 2005 has been arrested or tried. This impunity encourages potential hostage-takers to act." (Added 17 April 2007)

Previously kidnapped foreign journalists and aid workers have been released unharmed, the longest held being two Fox News journalists who were held for two weeks. However, concerns over Johnston's safety have been heightened after Sunday, 15 April 2007, when a previously unknown group calling itself the Monotheism and Jihad Brigades claimed that it had executed Johnston in a statement which read, "The whole world made a great deal of noise about this foreign journalist, while no one lifted a finger to help our thousands of prisoners." Palestinian officials have discredited the claim, though the group said it intended to release video of the murder.

The kidnapping of Johnston, the only remaining foreign correspondent of a major media corporation in Gaza, came before the announcement of Israeli plans of a major operation inside the Gaza Strip. Palestinian journalists protested Johnston's abduction throughout his ordeal, calling for his release and an end to the vigilantism currently plaguing the Gaza Strip. Palestinians wgi protested in solidarity with Johnston called his abduction as counter to the Palestinians' national interests, as there are now no foreign correspondents based in Gaza to tell their story.

Gaza remains a dangerous place for journalists, as last year a Reuters cameraman and a colleague were injured when an Israeli missile struck the letter "P" in the word "Press" atop the roof of the car in which they were traveling. Several Palestinian journalists were wounded by Israeli fire throughout the West Bank and Gaza last year, and in the past several years, Israeli forces have killed journalists including Palestinians Imad Abu Zahra and Nazih Darwazeh and British national James Miller.


Reports and Updates
  • Hamas has hopes from release of BBC reporter, IPS (6 July 2007)
  • Alan Johnston released after 114 days of captivity, Reporters Without Borders (4 July 2007)
  • Mothers of prisoners call for their release and condemn Johnston kidnapping, Open Letter (17 April 2007)
  • Deep concern about BBC correspondent after killing claim, Reporters Without Borders (15 April 2007)
  • State of insecurity escalates; BBC's Johnston remains kidnapped, Al Mezan (10 April 2007)
  • Palestinian Solidarity Strike to Secure Release of BBC Correspondent, International Federation of Journalists (4 April 2007)
  • Great concern over continued detention of BBC journalist, Reporters Without Borders (2 April 2007)
  • BBC reporter still held two weeks after kidnapping, Al-Haq (26 March 2007)
  • Al Mezan condemns the kidnapping of BBC journalist, Al-Mezan (13 March 2007)
  • BBC's Alan Johnson second reporter kidnapped in Gaza this year, Reporters Without Borders (12 March 2007)


    Diaries
  • A personal plea to Alan Johnston's kidnappers, Kate Burton (15 April 2007)
  • Palestinian journalist's letter to Alan Johnston, Sami Abu Salem writing from the Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine (28 March 2007)


    Press Freedom Advocacy Organizations
  • Committee to Protect Journalists
  • International Federation of Journalists
  • International Freedom of Expression eXchange
  • Reporters Without Borders


    Related Links
  • BY TOPIC: Press Freedom


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