Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, stated on Wednesday that the British government rejected a Palestinian proposal to use force in order to release the kidnapped BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, captured by an unknown armed group in Gaza since March 12.Haniyya said that the government “is seriously considering the use of force to release Johnston” since the security devices believe that they know his location, but the British government rejected the proposal in fear that he would be harmed”.
He added that the government is conducting enormous efforts to hold negotiations with those it suspects to be holding Johnston.
In a meeting with reporters in Gaza City, Haniyya stated that the kidnappers are members of an extremist Islamic group which mixes politics with ideology and Islamic law, Israeli online daily Haaretz reported.
Haaretz added that Haniyya stated that a messenger sent his office 10 ideological questions posed by the kidnappers about the legitimacy under Islamic law of taking Johnston hostage.
According to Haaretz, Haniyya stated that the demands of the group were reduced to three after Islamic experts were called in to answer these questions, and that these questions are not related to Palestinian politics.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, stated earlier on Wednesday that Palestinian security forces know the location of Johnston, but added that the forces are hesitant to use force for fear that Johnston might be harmed.
