The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, welcomes the release of BBC journalist Alan Johnston after 114 days in captivity and is relieved that Johnston appears to be in good health.

Johnston was abducted while on his way home from his office in Gaza City on the evening of 12 March. At the time of his abduction, Johnston, who had been the BBC correspondent in Gaza for three years, was the only Western broadcast journalist both living and working there.

Johnston was abducted by the Army of Islam, a Gaza-based militant group. Johnston’s release, on the early morning of 4 July, came about after an intervention by the Popular Resistence Committees, a group of senior Muslim clerics, paved the way for direct negotiations between Army of Islam leader Mumtaz Durmush and Hamas representatives.

Commenting on Johnston’s release IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said: “We are greatly relieved to learn that Johnston has been released unharmed and that his lengthy period of captivity is now over.”

“During IPI’s recent mission to the Palestinian Authority to advocate for Johnston’s release, we witnessed the extraordinary efforts taken by journalists in both Gaza and the West Bank to support their abducted colleague. We again express our gratitude to these Palestinian journalists and civil society groups who played an instrumental role in maintaining public pressure on Johnston’s kidnappers to release him.”

“Johnston’s ordeal has demonstrated how seriously deteriorating security conditions in Gaza have affected the work of journalists in the Palestinian Authority, many of whom have serious concerns for their safety while practicing their profession. No foreign journalist has been based in Gaza since Johnston’s kidnapping, and local journalists have been limited in their efforts to report due to increased risk of violent attack. The result has been a severe breakdown in the free flow of news and information,” Fritz said. “Johnston is one of 15 journalists who have been kidnapped in Gaza since 2005. Although many of the perpetrators of these attacks are known to the authorities, to date, none have been arrested or prosecuted. We call on the Palestinian Authority to end the culture of impunity that exists for those responsible for attacks on journalists. It is essential for all parties in the Palestinian Authority to recognize press freedom as a fundamental component of a democratic society and an essential element for building lasting peace.”