British journalist released from Hamas custody

Gaza's Hamas rulers on Thursday released a British journalist they had held for a month amid allegations that he endangered the Palestinian territory's security.

Paul Martin said he was arrested because of his work as a journalist and called his release, with the help of the British and South African governments, a "great victory for the freedom of the media."

He said he "has gone through a lot" in the past month but did not elaborate.

A smiling Martin gave a thumbs-up after Hamas handed him over to British diplomats who drove him out of Gaza. In London, his wife, Anne, said she was "extremely relieved" and expected her husband home by the weekend.

Martin, a freelance journalist who has produced reports for the British Broadcasting Corp. and The Times of London, was the first foreigner to have been seized since Hamas overran Gaza in 2007.

His detention raised concern among news organizations and international agencies with staff in the territory that Hamas was adopting a more confrontational approach, after initially going out of its way to avoid friction with foreigners.

The Tel Aviv-based Foreign Press Association, which represents foreign correspondents working in Israel and the Palestinian territories, welcomed Martin's release.

"Journalists should be able to continue doing their professional job in Gaza or any other place, without having the threat of being arrested," the group said in a statement.

Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, said Martin was suspected of serious security offenses and would not be able to return to Gaza. No charges were filed against him.

Zahar suggested Thursday that Martin's activities as a journalist brought about his arrest.

The Hamas leader alleged Thursday that Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels," Zahar said, referring to hundreds of border tunnels that bypass the blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt.

The tunnels bring in commercial goods, but are widely believed to be a conduit for cash and weapons as well.

Zahar complained that Martin was also working on a story about the alleged use of civilians as human shields by Hamas.

The Hamas leader also alleged Martin was in touch with Gazans suspected of collaborating with Israel.

Martin had entered Gaza on Feb. 14, intending to testify on behalf of a former Gaza militant who was on trial as an alleged informer for Israel. Instead of addressing the military court, Martin was taken into custody.

Martin had been working on a documentary about the accused collaborator.

"I have gone through a lot in the last few days, and weeks," he said after his release. "But I think if my release today is worth anything, it is worth showing the world that journalists must do their stories irrespective of the risks involved, if they wish to maintain freedom of the media."